SKULL-TOP MYSTERY IN CHINA

Definitely a talker -- the story, not the skull. Or in this case, 121 skulls, most missing their tops. The Telegraph reports:

The skulls were found by a farmer in a forested ravine in a part of the poor north-western province of Gansu, which is inhabited by ethnic Tibetans.

Police have confirmed that the skulls are human and are of "recent origin", as suggested by the fact that some had skin and hair still attached.

But officials have refused to give further details, which has given rise to theories of their origin that range from medical experiments on brains to an attempt to cash in on a fashion for skullcap-shaped ashtrays.

A further twist came with a find in a landfill site in the same province of two arms belonging to a child believed to be aged between five and eight. The arms appeared to have been cooked with chilli and ginger.

According to local newspapers, the skulls were found on a river bank last week in plastic bags along with fur and bones. At first it was suggested they could have belonged to monkeys.

Police and forensic scientists have now ruled out any medical reason for cutting off the tops of the skulls, although they said this had clearly happened after death. ...

The Beijing News ... said imitation skullcaps were being sold as ashtrays in a well-known market in the capital, where a seller claimed that, lined with silver, "the real thing" commanded high prices from private buyers.

Gingered arms? Skullcap ashtrays? Next thing you know they'll say China has tall, red-haired mummies.