This study's primary ambition is to present an overview of the key texts from a genre of Tibetan craniological manuals (Tib. thod brtags) as well as some of their translations, thus illustrating the diversity of this tradition. Based on the reviewed material, a comparison with secondary literature will be made and a few re-evaluations of known facts suggested. Because the only available comprehensive translation of any craniological text was published in 1888 (!) and all the subsequent works have relied on it without necessary critical approach, I decided to translate that original text once again and reveal any possible misinterpretations. As a result, I hope this thesis will contribute to the already present academic (mainly ethnographical oriented) discussion about the use of skulls in Tibet, as its philological support, hence filling up this blank methodological spot. Keywords Tibetan studies, Tibetology, Philology, Tibet, Buddhism, vajrayāna, tantra, ritual object, ritual vessel, human skull, calvaria, cranium, skull cup, craniology, manual, Kapālika gal gnad ming tshig bod, chos, bon, kapāla, ka li, thod pa, thod phor, thod bum, thod zhal, thod rus, bha+ndha, bhandha, ban+dha, bhan ja, dung chen, thod brtag, thod brtags, thod rabs, thod bshad, thod pa'i mtshan, snod, sgrub rdzas, thod sgrub,...