Deformed 'alien' skulls offer clues about life during the Roman Empire's collapse

Live Science ^ | April 30, 2020 | Mindy Weisberger

[SunkenCiv]

...Skull binding spread across central Asia in the second century B.C., expanded into Europe around the second and third centuries A.D. and became increasingly popular in central Europe by the first half of the fifth century A.D., according to the authors...

For the new study, researchers examined 51 elongated skulls from burials in the Mözs graveyard, in what was once a Roman province known as Pannonia Valeria. The graves, 96 in all, were divided into three groups and represented three generations, from A.D. 430 until the cemetery was abandoned in A.D. 470.

The first burial group is thought to be the founding group of the cemetery, and their remains are buried in Roman-style graves. A second group is buried in a style that appears to have originated outside the region, while the third group combines burial practices that draw from Roman and other traditions.

Individuals with artificially stretched skulls were found in all three burial groups, with elongated skulls comprising around 32% of the burials in the first group; 65% in the second group; and 70% in the third group. However, variations in the location and direction of grooves in the skulls suggest that different binding techniques were used among the groups.

Analysis of isotopes, or different versions of atoms, in the bones provided more clues about where individuals in the later burials came from. Some originated near Mözs and others settled there after being displaced...

Previously, archaeologists had hypothesized that new arrivals to Pannonia Valeria settled with people who had lived there under the Romans, based on artifacts that were found in the graves; the new evidence confirms that, according to the study.

[Oatka]

Some American indians had their own version:

[Little Ray]

I wonder what impact the deformation had on cogitation?

[wildbill]

Every time I see a skull with this deformation caused by skull wrapping some questions occur to me:

1. Why does this cultural practice appear in separate and remote parts of the world?
1/A. How does this cultural practice appear in separate and remote parts of the world? Presumably there is no interaction between a remote area of Pannonia, Africa, and the AltoPlano of Peru.

2.So is this just an impulse built into humans genes? “Hey guys, I got an idea. Let’s wrap all the kids skulls as soon as they are born so they elongate like Coneheads.” Why would this become a desirable social convention in a localized area? Is imitation the highest form of flattery?

3. Saggital sutures: For all known humans, At birth, the bones of the skull do not meet. If certain bones of the skull grow too fast then “premature closure” of the sutures may occur. This can result in skull deformities. If the sagittal suture closes early the skull becomes long, narrow, and wedge-shaped, a condition called scaphocephaly.

OK, this CAN be a natural process, BUT why would it occur in an entire village, tribe, culture, or whatever. Assuming this happens naturally to one member of a tribe, would the other tribesmen seek to emulate it by binding the heads of their own children in imitation?

[21twelve]

All interesting questions. I don’t know if it is similar, but reminds me of the various Bigfoot stories or other creatures that are in stories of old throughout the world. Is there something out there - or is there just something in humans that create something to be out there?

Also reminds me of the story of the daughter asking mom how to make meatloaf. So the mom helps and then after the thing is all mixed and rolled out in a loaf she cuts both ends off of the loaf. “That’s our little family secret to a good meatloaf!”

“Why?”

“I don’t know - that’s just the way we’ve always done it - and how your grandmother has always done it and that’s how she showed me.”

“But why?”

“Okay - lets call Grandma!”

“Oh Honey, I cut off the ends because I didn’t have a large enough pan!”