Skalletyper

Skalletyper, often translated as "skull types" or "head shapes," refers to the classification of human skulls based on their morphology and measurements. These classifications have been used historically in various fields, including anthropology, craniometry, and forensic science, to understand human variation, population history, and sometimes, to identify individuals.

The primary basis for classifying skalletyper often involves metrics like skull length, breadth, and height, as well as indices derived from these measurements, such as the cephalic index. This index, calculated by dividing the skull's breadth by its length and multiplying by 100, broadly categorizes skulls into dolichocephalic (long and narrow), brachycephalic (short and broad), and mesocephalic (intermediate) types. Other typologies consider facial features, such as the prognathism (projection of the jaw) and the shape of the orbits (eye sockets).

Historically, these classifications were sometimes linked to racial or ethnic groups, a practice now widely criticized for its oversimplification and potential for misinterpretation. Modern anthropology and forensics tend to focus on more detailed anatomical features and genetic data for population studies and individual identification, acknowledging the complex and continuous nature of human variation rather than rigid typologies. While the term "skalletyper" may still appear in historical contexts or specific scientific discussions, its application has evolved significantly.