So now to those two recent reports from China. They cited incomplete or possibly falsified results that were made up to draw amateur archeology enthusiasts to the area to spend money in order to boost the local economy. In many cultures, a deformed head was an indicator of increased social position. The partial skull, dated at over 11,200 years ago, was the earliest-known case of head binding from Asia. For me, its just another wayto separate from seeing the skulls individual characteristics. According to the "Pyramid Texts", there was a period that emerged from the primordial chaos and the way gods ruled the earth. In Europe, researchers, such as neurologist and psychiatrist Achille Foville, documented the practice of cranial deformation in France. . Registers. More importantly, individuals who have had the procedure performed, unlike circumcision cannot conceal it. The mystery of elongated skulls deepens when we consider that numerous powerful rulers with elongated skulls were present in different corners of the world. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. As consort to Pharaoh Akhenaten the couple ruled from 1353 to 1336 BCE during one of the most contentious periods of Egypt's cultural history. Even more skulls remain unknown, as they have not been photographed (or at least are not publicly accessible) and therefore, not available forpublic viewing in Chile and Peru. First , Nefertiti .. EGYPT !! The tests also indicated that the 2,000 to 3,000-year-old skulls are most likely of European origin. But why would a mother or caregiver subject her child to such a painful and ongoing process? Rejecting the possibility of head binding, Egyptologists have generally favored some kind of (possibly inherited) medical syndrome when explaining strange head shapes in the Akhenaten family. Akua Serwaah, Forbidden Archeology: The Hidden History of the Human Race. It is elaborate, requiring careful binding of a babys head for several years. These finds by themselves suggest that the interred individuals were viewed as having some kind of elevated social standing which warranted a more elaborate burial. Spokane, WA: Arthur H. Clark Co. Snorrason, E. (1946) Cranial deformation in the reign of Akhenaton. Many cultures believe that an elongated head indicates increased intelligence. Evidence of ancient civilization in Bolivia. (2010) Paleoneurosurgical aspects of Proto-Bulgarian artificial skull deformations. Although I had not picked up a pencil in 14 years, I felt sure I could draw them to recreate their faces, to see what they looked like. Left: Algonquin cradleboard designed for infant carriage. The ancient civilization of Greece is a historical period that has long been a subject of fascination and intrigue. Deficiency has been associated with multiple sclerosis and even COVID-19. Infant skull from Cusco, Peru, and Infant/Child skull from Tiwanaku, Bolivia. They go on to state that the practice makes it easier to carry burdens. In the eastern highlands of Brazil, a skull was recovered from Confins Cave that dates back to 7566 BCE. Source: Modified version of a general map adapted in 2016 from Enchev et al. It is well-known that most cases of skull elongation are the result of cranial deformation, head flattening, or head binding, in which the skull is intentionally deformed by applying force over a long period of time. It does seem so, but I dont get into (Spanish) terminology. We do not have the answer to that question right now, but as more evidence is unearthed the true origin of this practice will be revealed. Essentially, [the cones] are worn in the presence of the divine, she says. Given artistic associations of the objects with childbirth, and the fact that at least one of the specimens was an adult woman, the team suggests the cones had something to do with fertility. Assessing skull shapes relative to a series of radiometric dates, Velasco distinguished early and late phases (1150-1300 AD versus 1300-1450 AD). Second , my brothers and sisters , the Mangbetus !!! In South America, there are different categories or types. For example, for the Aymara culture of the highland area near Tiwanaku, Brazil, the predominant practice was of circumferential compression. IG: Are you relying on any anthropological or forensic methodsof facial reconstruction? These traditions originated in our remote past. Evidence from the Chinookan peoples inhabitants of a small geographical region in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, along the Columbia River reinforce the proposed connection between cradle-boarding and intentional head binding. The donning of pointed hats was not limited to Egyptian royalty. File licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Just south of Sicily, surrounded by sapphire waters and sun-soaked shores, Beltane is an ancient Gaelic festival celebrating the beginning of summer and the renewal of life. Women who wear the cones are sometimes also portrayed in childbirth, an activity associated with certain gods. (Video), When Faith and Power Clash: How Christianity Divided the Roman Empire (Video), Medieval Maverick: Roger Bacon's Quest for Knowledge and Truth, The Life and Times of Mansa Musa: The Richest Man in History, Fathoming the Ruins of Yanmen Shan Mountain and the Biggest Cut Rocks in the World, Sacred Treasure Hunt: In Pursuit of the Elusive Ark of the Covenant (Video). They may have believed that skulls that were closer to the gods may have served as better conduits to the divine world. Skulls derived from such practices are the realm of Anthropology. The Iroquois, the Osage, the Tuscaroras, the Hurons, the Omahas, and many other North American Indians all speak of giant men who once lived and roamed in the territories of their forefathers. A more recent prime candidate has been Marfans Syndrome, which at least does not entail early death and may allow fertility. Ancient Egyptian art is filled with images of reverent revelers with pointy cones on their heads. In addition to the physical manipulation of the cranium, other measures were employed by many cultures to accentuate this modified form. Work in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or less. Who were those with the elongated skulls in ancient Egypt? Only one ancient account mentions the existence of Xerxes Canal, long thought to be a tall tale. This assumption is based upon the increased number of remains with elongated skulls recovered. Robert Martin, Ph.D., is Emeritus Curator of Biological Anthropology at the Field Museum in Chicago, as well as a member of the Committee on Evolutionary Biology at the University of Chicago. Bestselling author Dr. Rita Louise is the founder of the Institute of Applied Energetics and the former host of Just Energy Radio. I knewsomething incredible had gone on there, but put it out of my mind after finding no interest by anyone I tried to share it with. Sadists turn others' suffering into their own satisfaction. If it were something that humanity was compelled to do as part of its social evolution, then it would only make sense that it would be found more widely distributed. Later as consciousness fell into the kali yuga or Amen as this article purports, they forgot why they were doing it. But this practice was apparently confined to two generations, one corresponding to Akhenaten and Nefertiti and the other to their daughters and Tutankhamun. Why Ancient Peruvians Had Elongated Skulls (No, It's Not Aliens) However, when skulls are discovered composing of only two and not three parietal plates amoung other features, regardless of whether or not the skulls went through binding to achieve elongation, such finds are the realm of Cryptozoology, in my mind. In a condition known as plagiocephaly, the back of the head becomes flattened, and as with cradleboarding the resulting shape is typically asymmetrical because it is accidental. The simplest method a caregiver employed was to put pressure on, or gently massage the child's head daily until the desired shape is achieved. The 1993 book Indian Slavery in the Pacific Northwest by Robert Ruby and John Brown reported that head binding was confined to high-ranking tribe members. In the documentary, Cleopatra, one of Egypt's most famous historical figures, is portrayed by Adele James, who is biracial. to John Dale Some gods were specific to particular towns or places . But the fact that they were found in a non-elite cemetery makes it difficult to interpret the meaning behind them. People with schizoid personality disorder have difficulty trusting other people because they believe people are unsafe. When Stevens went to investigate, she saw a telltale point above the skull of a female skeleton. Cairo, Egypt: American University in Cairo Press. Some experts speculate that the babies who underwent the elongation process may have been of royalty or the highest social classes. Adding to his elongated, flat-topped head shape, a telltale small depression on the crown corresponded to a depression close to the back of the neck. Neurosurgical Focus 29(6),E3:1-7. The little-known history of the Florida panther. The discovery of unusual skulls was thus an unintended "spinoff" of his efforts. Until then I am part of the crowd who believe we may be looking at an unsolved mystery. A 2018 report by Matthew Velasco provides a finer-grained understanding of how head binding develops over time. Now theyve actually found the real thing. There were so many unanswered questions I wondered if perhaps this is why so few people could involve themselves with this kind of project. The usual approach to elongated skulls is dominated by concepts, but the skulls shapes are not linguistic, they are morphologic. After birth, a board is placed on the child's head and is bound in place. (2008). Cranial deformation is a distinct and painful tradition. Head modifications are always performed during infancy. Rarely practiced today and now generally unknown to most people in the world, the ritual of deforming the skull into unnatural shapes has been an integral part of a number of societies around the globe for many thousands of years. Did this indicate their increased social status? Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. He has published five books on the topic of historic true crime. Exploring the biological background of failed erections. He described a group known as the Macrocephali or Long-heads, who were named for their practice of cranial modification. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 18:372-391. Mainly, bones define much of a persons face, so accuracy, we would hope, isinevitable. Analyses of artifacts and ancient DNA indicated cultural and genetic continuity, suggesting a long-standing tradition of skull deformation. Numerous elongated skulls have been unearthed in the Caucasus area of Russia, which is significant considering the DNA results of the Paracas skeletons. In terms of the connections between the Americas and Eurasia, elongated skulls from these areas are so similar that sometimes the only way to distinguish them from one another is by the background, or patina, on the skulls. To look at skulls from Peru firsthand and, hopefully, photograph their collections of Peruvian skulls. When and if funding becomes available, it will greatly facilitate research and presentation of elongated skulls and it would increase our understanding of the historical significance of these people.