Case File 173-Elongated Skulls

Beginning in the year 250 A.D. the Mayan culture of Central America reached new heights of civilization. Marked by outstanding advancements in art, science, and architecture this period is referred to as the Mayan classic period. Also during this time, modern scientists have identified a widespread cultural practice of cranial deformation whose origins seemed to be deeply rooted in humanity’s past. From the many examples of art dated to this period, archaeologists have been able to form theories that link this practice within the Mayan civilization to a complex social hierarchy that incorporated two very different techniques for the sh...