Cranial Deformations of Native Peoples of

North AmericaBy: Jessica Lawson

Artificial Cranial Deformation a human cultural phenomenon defined as a product of dynamic

distortion of the normal vectors of infantile neurocranial growth through the agency of externally applied forces.

Four categories of deformation with subcategories of simple and complex deformations:

Simple: Occipital Deformation-the back of head being very flat and meets the top of the head at a nearly 90 degree angle to the top of the head that is also nearly flat.

Simple: Lamdoidal Deformation- the top of the head having a nearly flat resemblance while the back of the head slopes down toward the neck leaving a small bulge in the back of the head down toward the neck.

Complex: Parallel-Fronto-Occipital Deformation-when the shape of the skull is conical. It is long, and skinny, and extends up at a parallel angle from the rest of the body.

Complex: Fronto-Vertico-Occipital Deformation-when the face of the skull is shaped normally but the back of the head is a conical shape. The top and back portions of the skull come together on the top potion of the head, making a bun shaped protrusion.

• These deformations can happen intentionally, or through unintentional means and happen when head is still malleable for up to 1st year of life.

Going to cover four different regions of North America, laying out different forms of cranial deformations starting with:

Northwest Coast of North AmericaMost prominent type of deformation here is fronto-vertico-occipital flattening.

• One known tribe to have practiced this type of deformation was the Chinook.• Noted through tales of Lewis and Clark as having heads “flattened in the most distinct

manner”.• More deformation in women-more pressure in society.• In notes, a drawing that depicted Chinook using boards to stretch out child and flattening

head by 2 boards strapped at acute angle, forming extreme pressure to back and front of head.

Why?• Cultural belief system!• Men with deformed skulls more brave and powerful.• A molded head was sign of social status within tribes.• Also molded skulls were a sign of beauty. More deformed, more beautiful.• Slaves were NOT allowed the deform skulls, were in lowest ranking of all

Midwest Cranial DeformationHunter/Gatherer societies-Mississippian Most prominent types of deformation was Lamdoidal and Occipital

flattening.• Found exhibiting porotic hyperstosis ( lesions on cranium that’s indicator of anemias).

At first, was believed that this deformation was sign of status, but lesions were signs of nutritional stress one would expect of a person with low status.• So was this these forms of cranial deformations intentional or unintentional?

In Ohio, crania were found deformed that also had pottery sherds and copper beads within the burial sites.

Crania exhibiting cranial deformation had broader faces and lacked 3rd molar eruption because of lack of space in posterior end of mandible.

Cradleboards?

Southeast Coast of North AmericaMost prominent type of deformation was parallel-fronto-occipital.

• One known tribe in area was known to use this cranial deformation-Choctaw.This form of deformation of the cranium was by way of cradleboard.A cradleboard is an oblong cradle formed like a trough. The end on which its

head rests is higher than the other part, and a padding is fixed on the forehead (of the child) with a piece of cedar wood on top of it, and secured by means of cord passing through small holes on each side of the cradle.

Cradleboards were brought up in WPA letters between early Anthros!Told of how if child’s head wasn’t moulded, it meant the child was not

“taken care of” when infant.• Headboard pressure being so great, cerebrospinal fluid came out of child’s nose.

Was deformation unintentional or intentional? Both?

Southwest Coast of North AmericaLambdoidal and Occipital deformations are most

prominent.Known tribes are the Mimbres, Ancestral Puebloan

and Hohokam.Cradleboards used?

• A hard board was used for the back of the basket, case, or cradle in which baby was carried in.

Hohokan Difference?• No frontal flattening, with variation of “quite round” to “very

flat”• Due to degree of hardness of skull or size of pad or pillow in

which was used to flatten, also amount of time child spent within the device.

To the left?• Left side of cranium would have more flattening than right

side, why would this be?• Thought this was weird, and maybe the Hohokan held their

children differently in a cradleboard.