Mock-up alien skull on display

Passers-by on the ground floor of the Student Building might notice a strange inclusion in its display case of animal bones. Nestled beside the posed skeleton of a squirrel monkey sits an alien skull with giant eye sockets, oversized head and small nose typical of a science fiction movie.\nSo is the Student Building the Area 51 of IU? \nNot exactly.\nThe mock-up skull is a creation of what an alien might look like, based on popular extraterrestrial lore in our culture. And even though the skull has a small disclaimer in front of it explaining that it didn't originate from another galaxy, Nick Toth, a professor of anthropology and the co-director of the Center for Research into the Anthropological Foundations of Technology, said it attracts students' attention nonetheless.\n"They do comment on it. They usually ask 'just what is that?'" he said. "Usually when you're looking at a skull, you have some sense of what it comes from, and that one throws them for a ringer."\nThe skull was created by California-based Bone Clones and "has the complete look and feel of the real thing," according to the company's Web site. \nIU acquired a copy of the skull partially to stimulate students' interest in bones and partially as a joke, Toth said.\n"It's not to be taken seriously," he said. "It's kind of based on the science fiction portrayal of aliens, and what would its skull look like. It gets students thinking about bones in general and what to expect in evolution."\nStudents who really like the skull can purchase one at www.boneclones.com for $185.