2. Artificial Cranial Deformation
a human cultural phenomenon defined as a product of dynamic
distortion of the normal vectors of infantile neurocranial growth
through the agency of externally applied forces.
Four categories of deformation with subcategories of simple and
complex deformations:
Simple: Occipital Deformation-the back of head being very flat and meets
the top of the head at a nearly 90 degree angle to the top of the head that
is also nearly flat.
Simple: Lamdoidal Deformation- the top of the head having a nearly flat
resemblance while the back of the head slopes down toward the neck
leaving a small bulge in the back of the head down toward the neck.
Complex: Parallel-Fronto-Occipital Deformation-when the shape of the skull
is conical. It is long, and skinny, and extends up at a parallel angle from the
rest of the body.
Complex: Fronto-Vertico-Occipital Deformation-when the face of the skull is
shaped normally but the back of the head is a conical shape. The top and
back portions of the skull come together on the top potion of the head,
making a bun shaped protrusion.
3. • These deformations can happen intentionally, or through unintentional means and
happen when head is still malleable for up to 1st year of life.
4. Going to cover four different regions of North America, laying out different forms of
cranial deformations starting with:
Northwest Coast of North America
Most prominent type of deformation here is fronto-vertico-occipital flattening.
• One known tribe to have practiced this type of deformation was the Chinook.
• Noted through tales of Lewis and Clark as having heads “flattened in the most distinct manner”.
• More deformation in women-more pressure in society.
• In notes, a drawing that depicted Chinook using boards to stretch out child and flattening head by 2
boards strapped at acute angle, forming extreme pressure to back and front of head.
Why?
• Cultural belief system!
• Men with deformed skulls more brave and powerful.
• A molded head was sign of social status within tribes.
• Also molded skulls were a sign of beauty. More deformed, more beautiful.
• Slaves were NOT allowed the deform skulls, were in lowest ranking of all
5. Midwest Cranial Deformation
Hunter/Gatherer societies-Mississippian
Most prominent types of deformation was Lamdoidal and Occipital flattening.
• Found exhibiting porotic hyperstosis ( lesions on cranium that’s indicator of anemias).
At first, was believed that this deformation was sign of status, but lesions were signs
of nutritional stress one would expect of a person with low status.
• So was this these forms of cranial deformations intentional or unintentional?
In Ohio, crania were found deformed that also had pottery sherds and copper beads
within the burial sites.
Crania exhibiting cranial deformation had broader faces and lacked 3rd molar
eruption because of lack of space in posterior end of mandible.
Cradleboards?
6. Southeast Coast of North America
Most prominent type of deformation was parallel-fronto-occipital.
• One known tribe in area was known to use this cranial deformation-Choctaw.
This form of deformation of the cranium was by way of cradleboard.
A cradleboard is an oblong cradle formed like a trough. The end on which its head
rests is higher than the other part, and a padding is fixed on the forehead (of the
child) with a piece of cedar wood on top of it, and secured by means of cord passing
through small holes on each side of the cradle.
Cradleboards were brought up in WPA letters between early Anthros!
Told of how if child’s head wasn’t moulded, it meant the child was not “taken care
of” when infant.
• Headboard pressure being so great, cerebrospinal fluid came out of child’s nose.
Was deformation unintentional or intentional? Both?
7. Southwest Coast of North America
Lambdoidal and Occipital deformations are most
prominent.
Known tribes are the Mimbres, Ancestral Puebloan and
Hohokam.
Cradleboards used?
• A hard board was used for the back of the basket, case, or cradle
in which baby was carried in.
Hohokan Difference?
• No frontal flattening, with variation of “quite round” to “very
flat”
• Due to degree of hardness of skull or size of pad or pillow in which
was used to flatten, also amount of time child spent within the
device.
To the left?
• Left side of cranium would have more flattening than right side,
why would this be?
• Thought this was weird, and maybe the Hohokan held their
children differently in a cradleboard.
