10 Ancient Body Modification Practices

Head shaping, or artificial cranial modification, involves putting pressure on an infant's head so that it molds into a different shape than it normally would. This is done by binding it with cloths or attaching boards to the head in order to flatten it.

The earliest artificially modified skulls identified so far are from Victoria, Australia and are 14,000 to 9,000 years old. These had flattened foreheads and prominent brow ridges, though the reason for modification is unknown. The practice also occurred throughout Central and South America among pre-Columbian societies, resulting in a variety of shapes.

Historical records indicate that this was done for many different reasons, for example to signify social standing, for beauty, or to protect the spirit. The tradition lasted until the 19th century in some Native American tribes and until the 20th century in Papua New Guinea