Overmodelled skull

An overmodelled skull is a skull covered with various materials to reconstruct the appearance of a human head. This technique of art and religion is described in many countries throughout the ages.

Origins

A custom that has existed since the Neolithic era, it is widespread in Oceania and the Near East. It originated as a cult of ancestors and consists of covering the dry skull with a plastic material, such as earth, clay, ash, plaster or lime. Skulls can be embellished with pigments, jewellery etc. Sometimes, skulls of animals are also over-modelled.

References

  1. ↑ Ergul Kodas, Le surmodelage du crâne au Néolithique au Proche-Orient : Approche contextuelle, funéraire et visuelle, Tiempo y sociedad, Num. 18, 2015, pp. 5-45
  2. ↑ Fanny Bocquentin, Après la mort, avant l’oubli. Les crânes surmodelés du Levant sud
  3. ↑ Anthony JP Meyer, Oceanic Art, Könemann, 1995, p.382

Articles annexes

Bibliography