South American Indigenous skull showing artificial deformation
Object numberGC.3589
TitleSouth American Indigenous skull showing artificial deformation
DescriptionSkull, with the exception of the mandible, showing artificial deformation.
From an indigenous male of South American in whom the cranium has been artificially deformed during infancy and childhood. The skull is megacephalic having a cranial capacity of 1580 c.cm. In circumference it measures 517 mm., in length 169 mm., in breadth 167 mm. and thus, having a cephalic index of 98.81, it is highly brachycephalic. The basibregmatic measurement is 131 mm. giving a hypsocephalic altitudinal index of 77.51. It is prognathic, its basinasal length of 104 mm. giving a gnathic index of 109.97. The skull is leptorhine with a nasal index of 40.67, and megaseme with an orbital index of 90.69. The glabella and medial portions of the superciliary arches are but slightly developed and from thence the pars frontalis is flat and receding. A slight bulge indicates each frontal protuberance but the deformation of the frontal is symmetrical and there is no plagiocephaly. Except in part of the pars complicata the coronal suture,like the sagittal suture, is synostosed. Each parietal bone bulges laterally and posteriorly, the fulness being practically symmetrical. The base of the skull is symmetrical and unaffected by the deformity and the anteroposterior diameter of the circular foramen magnum lies in the mesial plane. There has been a full complement of teeth though many have been, accidentally lost and the occlusional surfaces are smooth and triturated as is common in many prehistoric tribes. About the bregma the outer table shows some destruction due to weathering or inhumation From the external occipital protuberance the superior nuchal line forms an unusually prominent ridge of strong bone.
Production placeSouth America
Object nameBONE, skull
Object categoryAnatomical, specimen
Dimensions
- Skull and stand Height: 26 cm
Width: 16 cm
Depth: 23 cm