Buzz
For thousands of years, people have modified their bodies for beauty. Among the oldest and most widespread traditions is reshaping the skull, a process called artificial cranial deformation, which involved altering the soft skulls of infants.
The reasons for this practice varied widely. It was often linked to status, attractiveness, and intellect. Despite its historical significance, it’s surprising how this custom has faded into obscurity today. As trends evolve, it might not be long before skull reshaping makes a comeback as a fashion statement.
10. The Woman of Tlailotlacan
Near the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, archaeologists discovered a fascinating skull. Belonging to a woman aged 35 to 40, it featured an artificially elongated shape. Her teeth were particularly striking, with pyrite-encrusted upper incisors and a serpentine prosthetic replacing a missing lower tooth. This 1,600-year-old skull was an exceptionally rare discovery in the region.
Researchers suggest the “Woman of Tlailotlacan” was a noblewoman from elsewhere. While artificially shaped skulls are frequently found in Mayan territories in Southern Mexico and Central America, they are exceedingly uncommon in central Mexico’s Teotihuacan. Buried alongside 19 offering-filled jars, her elongated skull and ornate dental modifications point to wealth and high status.
9. Huns of the Carpathian Basin
In Hungary’s Carpathian Basin, anthropologists unearthed nine skulls displaying artificial cranial deformation. Dating back to the fifth and sixth centuries AD, these skulls belonged to the notorious Huns. They exhibit three unique styles of modification, with both male and female skulls altered. Researchers have traced a path of elongated skulls from the Kalmykia Steppe through Crimea and into Europe, mirroring the Huns’ movements during the “Migration Period.”
The deformation likely served dual purposes: signaling status and marking racial identity. Non-Huns adopted the practice to gain favor with the steppe invaders. This characteristic also appears in various Germanic tribes, including the Alan, Sarmatian, Gothic, and Gepidic. While the Huns popularized the technique, its origins remain unknown.
8. Skulls of Shanidar
Artificial cranial deformation dates back at least 10,000 years, with recent discoveries suggesting it could be much older. In Iraq’s Shanidar Cave, archaeologists found two Neanderthal skulls that hint at this practice being used as far back as 45,000 years ago. Shanidar 1 and 5 both display signs of intentional skull shaping, characterized by flattened foreheads and unusual curvature at the back. Shanidar 5, in particular, shows significant forehead flattening—deviating 4.5 standard deviations from the average.
These skulls are unlikely to represent a natural regional variation, as other West Asian specimens have normal structures. The most plausible explanation is intentional deformation, revealing the aesthetic preferences of Neanderthals, a topic rarely explored. This practice has been linked to the emergence of burial rituals, both of which were behaviors once thought exclusive to modern humans.
7. Alsatian Noblewoman
In Alsace, France, archaeologists discovered graves and artifacts dating back 6,000 years. Among the findings was the remarkably preserved, elongated skull of a woman from 1,600 years ago. Buried with luxurious items, she is believed to have been an aristocrat. Many of her possessions originated from the East, suggesting her burial site may have been designated for Asian warriors and their families.
Artificial cranial deformation was common in France until the early 20th century. Locally known as bandeau, the practice involved tightly wrapping infants’ heads to prevent accidental injury, resulting in Toulouse deformity. Unlike the noblewoman’s modification, this type was prevalent among peasants. Could their tradition have stemmed from ancient memories of modified nobility?
6. Genocide Skulls
In a secluded New Mexico canyon, archaeologists found evidence of a massacre. They uncovered seven skeletons of the Gallina people, a mysterious culture that thrived in Northwestern New Mexico between AD 1000 and 1200. All remains showed signs of violent trauma, indicating that men, women, and children were brutally killed. To date, 90 percent of discovered Gallina remains have met brutal fates.
The Gallina skulls display distinct modifications, with flattened backs of the crowns. It’s unclear whether this was for beauty, cultural identity, or practicality. Regardless, it distinguished them from neighboring groups—and may have made them targets. Evidence suggests the region suffered a severe drought during this time, possibly leading to the Gallina being viewed as competitors for scarce resources—or even blamed for the drought.
5. Mangbetu
The Mangbetu people of Northeastern Congo were renowned for lipombo, the practice of artificially elongating skulls. This was a status symbol among the elite, who viewed deformed skulls as markers of beauty, power, and intelligence. They complemented the look with intricate, towering hairstyles. The tradition is extensively captured in photographs and persisted until 1950, when Belgian authorities banned it.
“Mangbetu” refers to a ruling class rather than an ethnic group. In the 19th century, they assimilated neighboring tribes and adopted many of their customs. Lipombo may have been one such borrowed tradition. The process begins when a child is one month old, using cloth wrappings to shape the skull. Typically, it doesn’t harm the brain, as constant pressure allows the brain to grow plastically into the available space. The effects are purely aesthetic.
4. Sonora Skulls
In 1999, workers in Sonora, Northern Mexico, stumbled upon an unexpected find: “El Cementerio,” an ancient burial site containing 13 individuals with artificially elongated skulls. Although discovered in 1999, it wasn’t examined until 2012. The remains are approximately 1,000 years old. Archaeologists also found pendants, nose rings, and other ornaments at the site.
The reason behind the skull deformation among these ancient Sonorans remains unclear. This practice is rarely documented so far north, prompting experts to rethink the extent of Mesoamerican cultural influence. The presence of many infants with elongated skulls has led some to suggest the practice might have been “crude and hazardous.” However, given the global success of cranial deformation over millennia, it’s unlikely this caused their decline.
3. Chief Comcomly’s Skull
The Chinook people of the Pacific Northwest commonly practiced artificial cranial deformation using cradle head boarding. Observers have noted similarities between these Columbia River natives and South American cultures. In the 19th century, Chinook chief Comcomly wielded significant influence, extending far eastward. He was part of the welcoming party for the Lewis and Clark expedition when they arrived at the Columbia River estuary.
Comcomly died during a smallpox outbreak in 1830. Four years later, Dr. Meredith Gardner of the Hudson Bay Company desecrated his grave to take his artificially shaped skull. Gardner exhumed the chief, removed his head, and sent the skull to England, where it stayed at the Royal Naval Museum for 117 years. Afterward, it was transferred to the Smithsonian before being repatriated to Comcomly’s descendants. It now rests on their ancestral land.
2. Paracas Skulls
Four hours south of Lima, Peru, the Paracas Peninsula lies where the desert meets the ocean. In 1928, archaeologists uncovered 300 skulls here, sparking ongoing debate. These skulls showed signs of cranial deformation, a common practice in South America. What sets them apart is evidence suggesting the individuals were born with elongated heads.
While cranial deformation doesn’t change skull volume, the Paracas skulls were 25 percent larger and 60 percent heavier than average. They also featured a single parietal plate, unlike the typical two.
The uniqueness of these skulls has fueled wild theories, including claims they belonged to aliens. A misunderstood DNA analysis added to the speculation, revealing unique maternal markers. Conspiracy theorists seized this as proof of an unknown species—a compelling but highly improbable tale.
1. The Cohuna Skull
In 1925, a plow revealed a mysterious skull near Australia’s Kow Swamp. It exhibited ancient Homo erectus characteristics but was dated to only 10,000 to 30,000 years ago. This anomaly fueled intense debate and speculation for decades. The skull became central to the multiregional hypothesis, a discredited theory proposing that Homo sapiens evolved independently in various regions—a concept often tied to racist ideologies. Today, many experts attribute the skull’s low, broad, and elongated forehead to artificial cranial deformation.
The skull will likely remain enigmatic for years. Many Homo erectus-like features still cannot be explained by cranial deformation alone. Its teeth and palate are notably larger than those of typical Aboriginal skulls. It may be linked to a late-surviving H. erectus population in nearby Indonesia, known as Solo Man—or it could represent an undiscovered hominid species.
