Mystery of the medieval skulls still has archaeologists scratching their heads

Times (UK) ^ | 8-25-07

[Renfield]

Medieval ping.

[Drawsing]

I would like to see a profile view of these two skulls.

[xcamel]

MWP == better living conditions == larger brains == bigger skuls...

[xcamel]

ping

[blam]

The answer can be found here:

Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland

[Lurker]

Cesarean vs natural birth.

One gives you a point head, the other a Frankenskull.

L

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Renfield. It had to do with breeding.

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[HungarianGypsy]

Cesarean vs natural birth. One gives you a point head, the other a Frankenskull.

I used to believe this theory until I had my children. All perfectly round heads at birth. Even the one getting his dad's caveman brow line.

[SunkenCiv]

Whoops, thanks xcamel for the ping!

[Lurker]

You've never seen my niece.

Cesarean and Frankenbaby all the way.

L

[CholeraJoe]

My daughter was C-section with a perfectly-shaped head. Of course the section was because she was breech.

[afraidfortherepublic]

What about cultural effects such as strapping the child to a papoose board to transport him/her? That certainly flattens the back of the skull.

[vpintheak]

Wow, seems as though changes happened really quickly. Just like everything else.

[Mumbles]

Sounds like the scientists have a lot to study. Climate change leading to a better or changed diet, radiation, Sun spots, etc. Glad that isn’t job.

[Sopater]

Maybe it was the hats they wore...

ROUND HEADS:





NARROW HEADS:





POINTY HEADS:

[GourmetDan]

Kinda makes it clear that all of the work assigning various skulls into different ‘species’ was a huge mistake, doesn’t it?

All based on that little ‘assumption’ that different skull shapes were more signigicant than they really are.

[Fred Nerks]

Heterochrony? (For when Mutation is a dirty word.)

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

LOL, my thoughts exactly!