Written for laymen as well as academics, Overmodeled Skulls will appeal to anyone with an interest in anthropology, ethnology, tribal art, human behavior, and the material culture of indigenous peoples. Since ancient times, skulls have been covered with clay, putty, and plaster to restore to them the appearance of a living human face. These revered artifacts were then used as part of ancestor veneration and in funerary rituals. The examples discussed in this book originate from Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, the Near East and the Holy Land, South America, and North America. Written by Dr. James L. Castner.