Skulls Unlimited International
Encyclopedia
Skulls Unlimited International, Inc. is a commercial supplier of osteological
specimens located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
. Skulls Unlimited provides a skull cleaning service, using dermestid beetles to strip the flesh from skulls and skeletons. Skulls Unlimited processes approximately 25,000 skull specimens per year.
s. Skulls Unlimited International was established in June 1986, by owner, Jay Villemarette. His fascination with skulls and bones began when he was seven years old, after he found a dog
skull in the woods near his home. His fascination with the skull
, along with encouragement from his father, led Villemarette to begin collecting other animal skulls. After graduating from high school
, he collected and sold skull
s in his spare time while working as an auto
body technician
. As sales grew, Villemarette and his wife Kim began to clean skulls in their kitchen.
After relocating to a retail location for his business in 1992, Villemarette was able to employ his first full time employees Skulls Unlimited remained at their South Shields address until June 2000, when they expanded into a custom built facility in Oklahoma City.
. The museum opened to the public on October 1, 2010 and features thousands of skull
and skeletal specimen
s, focusing on the form and function of the skeletal system. The museum serves as an educational experience, with the hopes that through education
, an appreciation of the natural world
will ultimately lead to conservation for the future.
Osteology
Osteology is the scientific study of bones. A subdiscipline of anatomy, anthropology, and archeology, osteology is a detailed study of the structure of bones, skeletal elements, teeth, morphology, function, disease, pathology, the process of ossification , the resistance and hardness of bones , etc...
specimens located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
. Skulls Unlimited provides a skull cleaning service, using dermestid beetles to strip the flesh from skulls and skeletons. Skulls Unlimited processes approximately 25,000 skull specimens per year.
History
In the summer of 1986, Villemarette found himself out of work after being laid off from his auto body job and started considering the possibility of working full-time with skullSkull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
s. Skulls Unlimited International was established in June 1986, by owner, Jay Villemarette. His fascination with skulls and bones began when he was seven years old, after he found a dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
skull in the woods near his home. His fascination with the skull
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
, along with encouragement from his father, led Villemarette to begin collecting other animal skulls. After graduating from high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, he collected and sold skull
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
s in his spare time while working as an auto
Auto
Auto, from Greek αὐτο- auto- "self, one's own", may refer to:*An automobile*An auto rickshaw*Auto, an Israeli car magazine*Short for automatic* Auto , a form of Portuguese dramatic play...
body technician
Technician
A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert...
. As sales grew, Villemarette and his wife Kim began to clean skulls in their kitchen.
After relocating to a retail location for his business in 1992, Villemarette was able to employ his first full time employees Skulls Unlimited remained at their South Shields address until June 2000, when they expanded into a custom built facility in Oklahoma City.
Museum of Osteology
In 2004, Skulls Unlimited started construction on a new 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²) building that now house's Skulls Unlimited's corporate offices and The Museum of OsteologyThe Museum of Osteology
The Museum of Osteology is a public museum devoted to the study of bones and skeletons . This museum is located in Oklahoma City and features displays with the skeletons of over 1,000 species from animals all over the world.-Description:...
. The museum opened to the public on October 1, 2010 and features thousands of skull
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
and skeletal specimen
Specimen
A specimen is a portion/quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study.BiologyA laboratory specimen is an individual animal, part of an animal, a plant, part of a plant, or a microorganism, used as a representative to study the properties of the whole population of that species or...
s, focusing on the form and function of the skeletal system. The museum serves as an educational experience, with the hopes that through education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, an appreciation of the natural world
Natural World
Natural World is the longest-running nature documentary series on British television. 2008 marked the series' 25th anniversary under its present title, though its origins can be traced back to its predecessor The World About Us which began over 40 years ago...
will ultimately lead to conservation for the future.