Between 1200 and 1600AD many graveyards in Europe were used to clean the flesh off bones so that the skeletons could be moved to the charnel house or ossuary, and the graves reused. Viewing these bony remains would have been a sign of respect and remembrance. Few ossuaries survived the protestant reformation. But the skulls that do remain are from people who expected their remains to be seen, and I want that to still be possible.
More info: susanelainejones.com
This polished skull probably indicates that family and friends would hold and stroke the skull
Skulls wouldn't now be numbered like this, but it is again a sign of its history
Different skulls have different weak points, and crumble in different ways
