- Head flattening
Head flattening, also called head binding, head shaping or head moulding, is the application of pressure or bindingsto cranial bones (the
human skull ) to alter their shapes. Flat shapes, elongated ones (produced by binding between two pieces of wood), rounded ones (binding in cloth) and conical ones are among those chosen. It is typically carried out on aninfant , as the skull is most pliable at this time. In a typical case (Tomman Island in Australia) headbinding begins approximately a month after birth and continues for about six months.Usually it is a part of a cultural
ritual , aimed at creating a skull shape which is aesthetically more pleasing or associated with desirable attributes such as intelligence. For example, in theNahai -speaking area ofTomman Island and the south south-western Malalukan mainland opposite (Australia), a person with a finely elongated head is thought to be more intelligent, of higher status, and closer to the world of the spirits.History
Intentional head molding producing extreme cranial deformations was once commonly practiced worldwide. Although rarer today, it is still prevalent in very few groups.
The earliest known culture to bind their children's heads were the
ancient Egyptians of the third millennium BC. The practice was also known among theAustralian Aborigines and certain tribes of North American natives, most notably theChinookan tribes of the Northwest and theChoctaw of the Southeast.The Native American group known as the Flathead did not in fact practice head flattening, but were named as such in contrast to other
Salishan people who used skull modification to make the head appear rounder. [http://www.americanindians.com/] However, other tribes, including theChoctaw , [http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/choctaw/chostawhist.htm] Chehalis, and Nooksack Indians, did practice head flattening by strapping the infant's head to acradleboard .Bibliography
* Ellen FitzSimmons, Jack H. Prost, Sharon Peniston, "Infant Head Molding, A Cultural Practice", "Arch Fam Med", Vol 7, Jan/Feb 1998
* Adebonojo, F. O., "Infant head shaping". "JAMA", 1991;265:1179.
* Henshen F. "The Human Skull: A Cultural History" . New York, NY: Frederick A Praeger, 1966External links
Headshaping, Australian Museum's Body Art: [http://www.austmus.gov.au/BODYART/shaping/headbinding.htm]
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