View source for Craniometry

{{Template:Boasian anthropology}}
'''Craniometry''' is measurement of the cranium (the main part of the skull), usually the human cranium. It is considered today to be politically sensitive due to associations with brain size/anatomy and [[race]].

== Early research ==
Much of the criticism of craniometry, often by [[Boasian anthropology]], concern early usage, such as regarding [[Nordicism]] and the [[cephalic index]]. Possible problems with such early research do not mean that later and/or unrelated research, such as on average brain size differences between groups, must be incorrect, but [[guilt by association]] attacks trying to imply this are common. 

Furthermore, some of the criticisms of such early research, such as by [[Franz Boas]] and [[Stephen Jay Gould]], have been shown to be incorrect:  
*In a very well-known and influential study, Franz Boas claimed extensive changes in the cranium for second-generation US immigrants. Recent studies have re-examined the data used by Boas and stated that Boas' claims are not supported his data.<ref>Sparks CS, Jantz RL (2002) A reassessment of human cranial plasticity: Boas revisited. ''Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A'' 99 (23):14636-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.222389599 DOI:10.1073/pnas.222389599 PMID: http://pubmed.gov/12374854</ref><ref>Richard L. Jantz. THE MEANING AND CONSEQUENCES OF MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION. This paper was presented at the session “Exploring the Nature of Human Biological Diversity: Myth v. Reality” at the American Anthropological Association (AAA) 2003 Annual Meeting on November 21, 2003 in Chicago, Illinois. http://www.understandingrace.org/resources/pdf/myth_reality/jantz.pdf</ref><ref>Richard L. Jantz. "The Meaning and Consequences of Morphological Variation" (PDF). Understandingrace.org. Retrieved 2017-03-04. http://www.understandingrace.org/resources/pdf/myth_reality/jantz.pdf</ref>
*Regarding Stephen Jay Gould, See [[The_Mismeasure_of_Man#Samuel_George_Morton|The Mismeasure of Man: Samuel George Morton]].

See also the articles on [[Morphology]] and [[Race]] on early usage of morphological characteristics for racial classifications.

== Recent research ==
Recent research include by methods such as modern imaging technologies. Recent (and some older) research have not just measured the cranium, but also, for example, the brain directly.
*[[Other_race_differences#Brain_anatomy|Other race differences: Brain anatomy]]
*[[Race_and_intelligence:_The_genetics_or_not_debate#Brain_size|Race and intelligence: Race and intelligence: The genetics or not debate: Brain size]]
*[[Race_and_morphology/physiology#Human_racial_morphological_differences_compared_to_morphological_differences_in_and_between_non-human_species|Race and morphology/physiology: Human racial morphological differences compared to morphological differences in and between non-human species]]
*[[Race_and_morphology/physiology#Skull_thickness|Race and morphology/physiology: Skull thickness]] 

Forensic anthropologists use craniometry for purposes such as determining the race of skeletal remains.

== See also ==
*[[Phrenology]]
*[[Physiognomy]]
*''[[The Mismeasure of Man]]''

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[[Category:Morphology]]
[[Category:Race]]