Final answer:
Samuel George Morton compared skulls based on cranial capacity to support race-based theories, which modern anthropology has debunked in favor of environmental and cultural considerations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparison of Skulls by Samuel George Morton
Samuel George Morton, an American scientist from the 19th century, was well-known for his work in comparing skulls. He collected and measured hundreds of human skulls from various ethnic groups. Morton's approach was largely based on cranial capacity, which he used to support his belief in the differences between races. Although Morton's work was influential at the time, it was later criticized for underpinning scientific racism and for having methodological flaws. Morton's methodology differed significantly from later approaches to studying ancient skulls, such as those found at Yiftah'el archaeological site and Neolithic Jericho, which involve detailed work like using CT scanning, 3D printing, and facial reconstruction to uncover historical, social, or ceremonial insights. Morton's racial typologies and emphasis on cranial size have been superseded by modern anthropological methods that reject race as a biologically valid concept and focus instead on environmental, social, and cultural factors that influence human development and diversity.
Contemporary anthropology has moved away from phrenology and cranial measurements as means of understanding human behavior and intelligence. Modern studies, such as those by Franz Boas, have shown that environmental factors can significantly influence skull shape and size, thereby challenging notions of fixed racial traits. Such insights emphasize the invalidity of using craniometry for racial categorization or assessments of intelligence or character.