Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A unified descriptive method for analysing artificial cranial deformation from a palaeopathological perspective

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The study’s goal is to propose a unified descriptive method for analysing artificial cranial deformation (ACD) in order to achieve consistent descriptions as well as to document the modification from a palaeopathological perspective. A number of examinations have dealt with the fact that ACD can either directly cause or predispose the formation of pathological and neurological lesions. The bulk of earlier studies only have focused on one or a few deviations in detail. The basic research aim was to assemble all previously described lesions which could be related to ACD; in addition, a further deviation undescribed as yet is also noted. Present and ongoing studies enable the development of a unified approach for the observation and description of ACD. Authors also suggest a data collector sheet based on previously published morphological alterations. This study makes an attempt to serve as a basis or a first step towards creating a general, standardized method to detect pathological alterations on ACD skulls and to distinguish ACD and non-ACD skulls from each other. In this paper, pathological consequences of ACD in ten individuals excavated from two contemporaneous cemeteries dated to the Hun-Germanic Period (fifth–sixth century AD) were investigated in an attempt to elucidate pathological lesions caused by ACD and to shed light on the possible connections between the type or the extent of deformation and the lesions appearing on ACD skulls. X-ray recordings were used to generate more accurate results, while previously used methods and recommendations were also applied in accordance with special literature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acsádi G, Nemeskéri J (1970) History of human life span and mortality. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest

    Google Scholar 

  • Allison M, Gerszten E, Munizaga J et al (1981) La practica de la deformacion craneana entre los pueblos anindos precolombinos. Chungara 7:238–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Antón SC (1989) Intentional cranial vault deformation and induced changes of the cranial base and face. Am J Phys Anthropol 79:253–267. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330790213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antón SC, Jaslow CR, Swartz SM (1992) Sutural complexity in artificially deformed human crania. J Morphol 214:321–332. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1052140307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baume L (1964) Survey of dentin biology. Br Dent J 92:254–259

    Google Scholar 

  • Bereczki ZS, Marcsik A (2005) Newer excavated deformed skulls from the Great Hungarian Plain. In: Korsós Z (ed) IV. Kárpát-medencei Biológiai Szimpózium, Előadások összefoglalói. Budapest, pp 29–34

  • Bjork A, Bjork L (1964) Artificial deformation and craniofacial asymmetry in ancient Peruvians. J Dent Res 43:353–362. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220345640430030601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boston CE (2012) Investigations of the biological consequences and cultural motivations of artificial cranial modification among northern Chilean populations. Electronic thesis and dissertation repository. Paper 665. http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/665/. Accessed 14 Mar 2018

  • Boston CE, Smith D, Ubeda C, Chandia M, Gonzalez M (2015) Examining the effects of artificial cranial modification on craniofacial metrics. Chungara 47:331–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown P, Mizoguchi Y (2011) Identifying the influence of artificial neurocranial deformation on craniofacial dimension. Bull Nat Sci Mus, Tokyo, Series D 37:1–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheverud JM, Midkiff JE (1992) The effects of fronto-occipital cranial reshaping on mandibular form. Am J Phys Anthropol 87:167–171. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330870205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheverud JM, Kohn LAP, Konigsberg LW, Leigh SR (1992) Effects of fronto-occipital artificial cranial vault modification on the cranial base and face. Am J Phys Anthropol 88:323–345. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330880307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cocilovo JA, Varela HH, O’Brien TG (2010) Effects of artificial deformation on cranial morphogenesis in the south central Andes. Int J Osteoarchaeol 21:300–312. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.1141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cottin M, Khonsari RH, Friess M (2017) Assessing cranial plasticity in humans: the impact of artificial deformation on masticatory and basicranial structures. C R Palevol 16:545–556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpv.2017.03.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Czigány J (2008) A mesterségesen torzított koponyákjellegzetes radiológiai elváltozásai. [Typical radiological disorders of artificially deformed skulls.]. Folia Anthropol 7:5–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean VL (1995) Sinus and meningeal vessel pattern changes induced by artificial cranial deformation: a pilot study. Int J Osteoarchaeol 5:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.1390050102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Del Papa MC, Perez SI (2007) The influence of artificial cranial vault deformation on the expression of cranial nonmetric traits: its importance in the study of evolutionary relationships. Am J Phys Anthropol 134:251–262. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.20665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dembo A, Imbelloni J (1938) Deformaciones intencionales del cuerpo humano de carácter étnico. Humanior, Buenos Aires

    Google Scholar 

  • Dingwall EJ (1931) Artificial cranial deformation: a contribution to the study of ethnic mutilation. Bale J, Sons and Danielson, London

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Najjar MY, Dawson GL (1977) The effect of artificial cranial deformation on the incidence of wormian bones in the lambdoidal suture. Am J Phys Anthropol 46:155–160. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330460119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enchev Y, Nedelkov G, Atanassova-Timeva N, Jordanov J (2010) Paleoneurosurgical aspects of Proto-Bulgarian artificial skull deformations. Neurosurg Focus 29(6):E3. https://doi.org/10.3171/2010.9.FOCUS10193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Éry K, Kralovánszky A, Nemeskéri J (1963) Történeti népességek rekonstrukciójának reprezentációja. [Representation of reconstruction of historical populations.]. Anthropol Kozlem 7:41–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerszten PC (1993) An investigation into the practice of cranial deformation among pre-Columbian peoples of northern Chile. Int J Osteoarchaeol 3:87–98. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.1390030205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerszten PC, Gerszten E (1995) Intentional cranial deformation: a disappearing form of self-mutilation. Neurosurgery 37:374–382. https://doi.org/10.1227/00006123-199509000-00002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ginzburg VV, Žirov EV (1949) Antropologicseszkije materialii iz Kenkolszkogo katakombnogo moglinika v doline r. Talasz Kirgizszkoj SzSzR. Szbornik Muzeja antropologii i etnografii 10:213–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillen S, Nelson AJ, Conlogue C, Beckett R (2009) Radiographic and endoscopic evaluation of methodological variations and cranial vault developmental anomalies among Peruvian subadult mummies and skeletal material exhibiting cultural cranial modification. In Peña PA, Rodriquez-Martin C, Ramirez Rodriquez MA (eds) Mummies and science: world mummies research. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, pp 561–566

  • Hajdu T, Bernert ZS (2007) Embertani adatok a Tisza-vidék szarmata és gepida korához. [Anthropological data to Sarmatian and Gepid Age of the Tisza region.] Tisicum – A Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok Megyei Múzeumok Évkönyve 16:327–344

  • Hajdu T, Guba ZS, Pap I (2009) A hajdúnánási avar temető embertani leletei. [Anthropological material from the avar period cemetery at Hajdúnánás]. Comm Archeolo Hung:339–358

  • Holliday DY (1993) Occipital lesions: a possible cost of cradleboards. Am J Phys Anthropol 90:283–290. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330900303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Józsa L (2011) Az emberi test mesterséges módosítása (deformálása) I. A koponyatorzítás. [Artificial modification (deformation) of the human body, I. Deformation of the skull.]. Orvosi Hetilap 30:1209–1213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Józsa L (2012) Betegségek, kóros állapotok ábrázolása egyiptomi alkotásokon [Pathological alterations on Egyptian sculptures and paintings.]. Kaleidoscope 5:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Józsa L, Pap I (1992) Pathological alterations on artificially distorted skull. Ann Hist-Natur Mus Nat Hung 84:189–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Józsa L, Pap I (2012) A töröknyereg elváltozásai torzított koponyákban. [Disorders of the sella turcica of the deformed skulls.]. Folia Anthropol 11:7–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Józsa L, Pap I (2014) A torzított koponyák paleopatológiai és röntgenpatológiai eltérései. (Aszimmetria a torzított koponyákon) [X-ray related- and paleopathological disorders of the deformed skulls. (Asymmetry of the deformed skulls)]. Folia Anthropol 13:67–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiszely I (2006) Sírok, csontok, emberek és egy másik ember. [Graves, bones, people and a person.]. Püski, Budapest

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohn LAP, Leigh SR, Jacobs SC, Cheverud JM (1993) Effects of annular cranial vault modification on the cranial base and face. Am J Phys Anthropol 90:147–168. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330900203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Konigsberg LW, Kohn LAP, Cheverud JM (1993) Cranial deformation and nonmetric trait variation. Am J Phys Anthropol 90:35–48. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330900103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin R, Saller K (1957) Lehrbuch der Anthropologie I-II. Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • McGibbon W (1912) Artificially deformed skulls with special reference to the temporal bone and its tympanic portion. Laryngoscope 22:1165–1184. https://doi.org/10.1288/00005537-191210000-00003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNeil RW, Newton GN (1965) Cranial base morphology in association with intentional cranial vault deformation. Am J Phys Anthropol 23:241–254. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330230312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mende BG (2010) Történeti népességek és betegségeik. Budapest, Magyar Tudományos Akadémia Régészeti Intézet. [Historical populations and their diseases. Budapest, Institute of Archaeology of the Hungarian Academy of Science] http://www.archeo.mta.hu/antropologia/paleopatologia.htm. Accessed 14 Feb 2014

  • Mendonca de Souza SMF, Reinhard KJ, Lessa A (2008) Cranial deformation as the cause of death for a child from the Chillon River Valley, Peru. Chungara 40:41–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Molnár M, János I, Szűcs L, Szathmáry L (2014) Artificially deformed crania from the Hun-Germanic Period (5th-6th century AD) in northeastern Hungary: historical and morphological analysis. Neurosurg Focus 36(4):E1. https://doi.org/10.3171/2014.1.FOCUS13466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss ML (1958) The pathogenesis of artificial cranial deformation. Am J Phys Anthropol 16:269–286. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330160302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss ML (1959) The pathogenesis of premature cranial synostosys in man. Acta Anat 37:351–370. https://doi.org/10.1159/000141479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nemeskéri J (1976) Über den Künstlich Deformierten Schädel von Schöningen, Kr. Helmstedt (5.-6. Jahrhundert). Nachr Niedersachs Urgesch 45:129–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Nemeskéri J, Harsányi L, Acsádi G (1960) Methoden zur Diagnose des Lebensalter von Skelettfunden. Anthropol Anz 24:70–95

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien TG, Peters LR, Hines ME: Artificial cranial deformation (2013) Potential implications for affected brain function. Anthropol 1:107. https://doi.org/10.4172/2332-0915.1000107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Loughlin VD (1996) Comparative endocranial vascular changes due to craniosynostosis and artificial cranial deformation. Am J Phys Anthropol 101:369–385. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-8644(199611)101:3<369::AID-AJPA6>3.0.CO;2-U

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Loughlin VD (2004) Effects of different kinds of cranial deformation on the incidence of wormian bones. Am J Phys Anthropol 123:146–155. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.10304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ódor JG (2011) The 5th-century cemetery and settlement at Mözs (Tolna County, Hungary) – some issues concerning the “East-Germanic” period in Transdanubia. In: Heinrich-Tamaska O (ed) Keszthely-Fenékpuszta im Kontext spätantiker Kontinuitätsforschung zwischen Noricum und Moesia. Budapest, Leipzig, Keszthely, Rahden: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia Régészeti Intézete, Geisteswissenschaftliches Zentrum Geschichte und Kultur Ostmitteleuropas, Balatoni Múzeum, CPP 2, pp 373–386

  • Oetteking B (1924) Declination of the pars basilaris in normal and in artificially deformed skulls: a study based on skulls of the Chumash of San Miguel Island, California and on those of the Chinook. Indian Notes Monogr 27:3–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Oetteking B (1930) Craniology of the North Pacific Coast. Memoir of the American Museum of Natural History, vol XI. EJ Brill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ossenberg NS (1970) The influence of artificial cranial deformation on discontinuous morphological traits. Am J Phys Anthropol 33:357–371. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330330310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pap I (1985) Data to the problem of artificial cranial deformation, part 3. Ann Hist-Natur Mus Nat Hung 77:281–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Perez SI (2007) Artificial cranial deformation in South America: a geometric morphometrics approximation. J Archaeol Sci 34:1649–1658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2006.12.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pomeroy E, Stock JT, Zakrzewski SR, Mirazon Lahr M (2010) A metric study of three types of artificial cranial modification from north-central Peru. Int J Osteoarchaeol 20:317–334. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.1044

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Posnansky A (1957) Tihuanacu: the cradle of American man. Ministerio de Educacion, La Paz

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhode MP, Arriaza BT (2006) Influence of cranial deformation on facial morphology among prehistoric south-central Andean populations. Am J Phys Anthropol 130:462–470. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.20333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross AH, Ubelaker DH (2009) Effect of intentional cranial modification on craniofacial landmarks: a three-dimensional perspectives. J Craniofac Surg 20:2185–2187. https://doi.org/10.1097/SCS.0b013e3181bf038c

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez-Lara PA, Graham JM, Hing AV, Lee J, Cunningham M (2007) The morphogenesis of wormian bones: a study of craniosynostosis and purposeful cranial deformation. Am J Med Genet A 143A:3243–3251. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.32073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandy R, Hennocq Q, Nyesjö J, Giran G, Friess M, Khonsari RH (2018) Orbital shape in intentional skull deformations and adult sagittal craniosynostoses. J Anat 233:302–310. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12844

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sjøvold T (1975) Tables of the combined method for determination of age at death given by Nemeskéri, Harsányi and Acsádi. Anthropol Kozlem 19:9–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Sjøvold T (1990) Estimation of stature from long bones utilizing the line of organic correlation. Hum Evolut 5:431–446. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02435593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Straub P (2011) Angaben zum hunnenzeitlichen ostgermanischen Fundhorizont in Südtransdanubien – ausgehend von der Nekropole in Keszthely-Fenékpuszta. In: Heinrich-Tamaska O (ed) Keszthely-Fenékpuszta im Kontext spätantiker Kontinuitätsforschung zwischen Noricum und Moesia. Budapest, Leipzig, Keszthely, Rahden: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia Régészeti Intézete, Geisteswissenschaftliches Zentrum Geschichte und Kultur Ostmitteleuropas, Balatoni Múzeum, CPP 2, pp 325–345

  • Torres-Rouff C, Yablonsky LT (2005) Cranial vault modification as a cultural artifact: a comparison of the Eurasian steppes and the Andes. Homo 56:1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchb.2004.09.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vyslozil O, Slavicek R (2001) Vergleichsuntersuchung an künstlich deformierten und undeformierten Schädeln. Ann Naturhist Mus Wien 102A:245–274

    Google Scholar 

  • White CD (1996) Sutural effects of fronto-occipital cranial modification. Am J Phys Anthropol 100:397–410. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-8644(199607)100:3<397::AID-AJPA7>3.0.CO;2-R

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilczak CA, Ousley SD (2009) Test of the relationship between sutural ossicles and cultural cranial deformation: results from Hawikuh, New Mexico. Am J Phys Anthropol 139:483–493. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.21005

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Gareth Dyke (University of Debrecen, Hungary & Babeş-Bolyai University, Romania) for the language correction of this article. We would also like to thank all our colleagues who have helped the completion of this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health, University of Debrecen, Sóstói út 2-4, Nyíregyháza, H-4400, Hungary

    Mónika Molnár & Róbert Ferenc Széll

  2. Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen, H-4032, Hungary

    László Szathmáry & László Szűcs

  3. Institute of Environmental Science, University of Nyíregyháza, Sóstói út 31/B, Nyíregyháza, H-4400, Hungary

    István János

Authors
  1. Mónika Molnár
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. László Szathmáry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. László Szűcs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Róbert Ferenc Széll
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. István János
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to István János.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Molnár, M., Szathmáry, L., Szűcs, L. et al. A unified descriptive method for analysing artificial cranial deformation from a palaeopathological perspective. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 11, 5553–5568 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-019-00890-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-019-00890-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation