Edinburgh University’s ‘skull room’ highlights its complicated history with racist science

Skulls were collected from all over the world because of some academics’ fascination with phrenology, the discredited belief that skull shape denoted intelligence Hundreds of skulls are neatly and closely placed, cheekbone to cheekbone, in tall, mahogany-framed glass cabinets. Most carry faded, peeling labels, some bear painted catalogue numbers; one...