Premium
An investigation into the practice of cranial deformation among the Pre‐Columbian peoples of northern Chile
Author(s) -
Gerszten Peter C.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
international journal of osteoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1099-1212
pISSN - 1047-482X
DOI - 10.1002/oa.1390030205
Subject(s) - ethnic group , skull , prehistory , artifact (error) , anatomy , geography , archaeology , history , demography , medicine , anthropology , sociology , biology , neuroscience
An investigation was carried out into the practice of artificial cranial deformation (ACD) among the Pre‐Columbian inhabitants of northern Chile. Four hundred and fifteen skulls, representing a period of 7000 years, were examined of which 88.9 per cent were deformed. The practice was carried out equally between men and women. The techniques used in head deforming varied over time among the different cultural groups that inhabited the region. By analysis of the methods used in ACD, it can be demonstrated that head deforming may yield information significant to the study of the political and cultural changes that occurred throughout the prehistory of the region. As a form of stylistic behaviour, which may be viewed as a strategy of information exchange, ACD was found to be a significant cultural artifact that may serve to mark territory or social boundaries, reaffirm ethnicity, and maintain and strengthen exchange networks. Certain pathological consequences were found to be the result of ACD, including an increase in the prevalence of wormian bones, occipital bone necrosis, and an abnormal closing pattern of the cranial sutures. No evidence was found that ACD is associated with a deviated nasal septum or osteomas of the external auditory canal.