Researchers at the University of Oxford revealed that a chalice made from a human skull was used during formal dinners until 2015, as documented in Professor Dan Hicks's book, 'Every Monument Will Fall.'

This skull chalice, believed to possibly belong to an enslaved Caribbean woman, served wine and later chocolate in Worcester College's senior common room for decades before its removal due to leaks.

Growing discomfort among college fellows and guests regarding the chalice's origins led to its phased-out use and prompted an investigation into the skull's history by Hicks in 2019.

Commissioned by Worcester College, Hicks found that detailed records of the skull's origin were lacking, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of its past.

Carbon dating suggests the skull is approximately 225 years old and likely originated from the Caribbean, although Worcester College disputes claims that it belonged to an enslaved person.

The skull was donated to Worcester College in 1946 by George Pitt-Rivers, a former student known for promoting eugenic theories, raising ethical questions about its acquisition.

Hicks describes the use of the skull chalice as a 'shameful history,' emphasizing the colonial violence and dehumanization of victims that it represents.

Hicks's research aims to highlight how the identities of victims of colonialism have often been erased from history, contrasting their stories with those of colonial profiteers.

Following the investigation, Oxford University has placed the chalice in its archives with permanent restricted access, as its origins could not be definitively identified.

Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy criticized the use of the chalice, pointing out the disconnection from the history of colonial violence and the dehumanization of its victims.

The chalice's silver hallmarks indicate it was made in 1838, coinciding with Queen Victoria's coronation, and it was previously displayed alongside the college's silver collection.

The skull was auctioned in 1884 by Bernhard Smith, an Oxford graduate with Caribbean ties, and purchased by Augustus Pitt Rivers, a Victorian soldier and archaeologist.