The trade in human skulls from the colonial era – A disturbing legacy | DW Documentary
“African human skull, early 20th century, 2,000 euros.” Adverts like this can be seen on social media. The trade is legal in Germany, even when the skulls date from the German colonial era.
This reportage reveals the questionable nature of this trade in skulls — especially when their origin becomes clear. Thousands of human skulls were shipped to Germany during the colonial era, in a bid to support so-called racial research theories. Some of them came from plundered graves, or were cut from the dead. For dealers at a market for curiosities on the German-Belgian border, the violent backstory is even made into a selling point.
Customs expert Daniel Bein says the trade in human skulls is not prohibited per se. But politicians are now evaluating the issue, and plan to introduce legislation that will ban private trade in human skulls and bones.
The filmmakers conduct research at home and abroad, visit an international market for human skulls, meet one of the largest dealers in London and speak to buyers in Germany. They also accompany people who are themselves searching for the skulls of their ancestors, to bring them back to their homeland.
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Video “The trade in human skulls from the colonial era – A disturbing legacy | DW Documentary” was uploaded on 05/31/2025 by DW Documentary Youtube channel.