Unusual, 1,400-year-old cube-shaped human skull unearthed in Mexico
Archaeologists digging at a Mesoamerican site in Mexico have discovered an unusual cube-shaped human skull. This is the first evidence that people in this region practiced a unique form of head modeling, scientifically known as cranial modification, around 1,400 years ago.
The skull was discovered near the archaeological site of Montezuma Balcony (Montezuma Balcony) in the state of Tamaulipas, east-central Mexico. Various Mesoamerican ethnic groups lived in the region between 650 BC and 1200 AD. Around 400 AD, a village arose, eventually comprising about 90 circular houses spread over two squares, according to Mexico. National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
In a recent study of artifacts and bones discovered at Balcón de Montezuma, researchers noticed that the skull of a middle-aged man had a shape they had never seen before.
In a press release dated November 25 translated by INAH statementbiological anthropologist Jesus Ernesto Velasco González explained that although artificially modified skulls have been discovered in the area before, the shape of this man’s skull is unique.
Many people are familiar with cultures that practiced cone-shaped cranial modificationas these skulls have almost “extraterrestrial” appearance. These skull shapes were typically created using lengths of fabric or soft padding to “bind” infants’ heads and encourage the skull to grow in an “oblique” direction, and they appear elongated.
Most of the modified skulls in the Balcón de Montezuma, on the other hand, are shaped in an “upright” direction by placing soft padding on the back and/or front of the skull, allowing the person to have a more upright or upright posture. pointed head.
But Balcón de Montezuma man exhibits a different form of “erect” modification in which the top of his head was flattened, giving his skull a cubic appearance that some experts call parallelepiped (shaped like a three-dimensional parallelogram or diamond).
Since examples of this flat-topped skull form had only been observed outside the area, notably in Veracruz and the Maya In the region, researchers wanted to check whether the man was local or foreign. Analysis of the chemistry of the man’s bones and teeth, however, revealed that he was born in the area, likely lived there his entire life, and died there.
Researchers believe that the unusual shape of the human head might have some sort of specific cultural significance that is still unknown. In many parts of Mesoamerica, slightly different head shapes are known. correlate with different cultural groups. Although this man himself was not from another geographic area, it is possible that the people who fashioned his head were from a different cultural group.
Research into materials recovered from past archaeological digs at Balcón de Montezuma is ongoing, according to the director of INAH Tamaulipas. Tonantzín Silva Cárdenasand will help broaden experts’ understanding of the site and its cultural and historical relationships with other pre-Hispanic groups in the region.
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