Thursday 28 May 2015

Head Space: Behind 10,000 Years Of Artificial Cranial Modification

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In 2013, archaeologists working in France, uncovered something very strange. The researchers discovered the tomb and skull of an aristocrat, who died some 1,600 years ago. Her skull was heavily deformed, with the front flattened, and the rear rising into a cone shape.

It was an example of 'artificial cranial deformation'. But this was not a singular incident. It turns out that altering the shape of one's head is not shockingly unique; it's incredibly common, across time and geography. Its meaning isn't fixed, so understanding why and how it happens can reveal much about the societies who choose to change the shape of their heads.

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