Trade in human skulls from the colonial era

[ in German ] ‘African human skull, early 20th century, €2000’ - this is how dealers openly advertise human skulls on social media such as Instagram. Panorama reporters uncover just how dubious this trade is, especially when you realise the origin of these skulls.

The displays at the fair range from bizarre to disconcerting: piglet foetuses in formalin, stuffed animals, animal bones and wet specimens are on offer.

And in between, there are always real human skulls and bones.

Some traders even have only human bones in their programme.

It is a fair for curiosities and ‘oddities’ that takes place near Aachen, just over the Belgian border.

Reporters from NDR Panorama are there to investigate a suspicion: real human skulls from the colonial era are being sold at the market, and therefore skulls with a possible violent background.