Artificial cranial deformation in the Proto-neolithic and Neolithic Near East and its possible origin : Evidence from four sites. - article ; n°2 ; vol.18, pg 83-97

Meiklejohn C., Agelarakis A., Akkermans Akkermansp.A., Smith P.E.L., Solecki R.

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Paléorient - Année 1992 - Volume 18 - Numéro 2 - Pages 83-97
La discussion sur la déformation crânienne artificielle observée au Proche Orient au Néolithique, amorcée par Lambert à partir de six crânes trouvés sur le site de Ganj Dareh (Iran) est reprise ici. Lambert considérait, pour la région, ces crânes comme étant les plus anciens ayant pu être affectés par une pareille altération. Le matériel de Ganj Dareh réétudié est confronté aux conclusions obtenues à partir de matériel trouvé sur trois autres sites : la grotte de Shanidar en Iraq, tepe Ghenil en Iran et Bouqras en Syrie. La présence des différents traits indique le port très répandu d'une sorte de serre-tête de forme encore indéfinissable qui aurait entraîné des modifications de la forme du crâne. Cependant, contrairement à certains exemples de déformation plus récents, il n'y aurait pas de lien évident entre ces modifications et le sexe ou la position sociale des individus. Les résultats obtenus sont comparés à ceux déjà publiés sur la morphologie crânienne et les traitements de crânes néolithiques au Proche-Orient.
The discussion of artificial cranial deformation of Near Eastern Neolithic material begun by Lambert's description of six crania from the Iranian site of Ganj Dareh is developed in this paper. Lambert regarded these specimens as being the earliest reported cases of the phenomenon in the region. This paper reports on a restudy of the Ganj Dareh material, together with findings obtained from three further sites, Shanidar Cave in Iraq, Tepe Ghenil in Iran, and Bouqras in Syria. We show the presence of a series of features that indicate the widespread use of an as yet undetermined form of head-gear that produced alteration in cranial form. However, in contrast to later examples of deformation there are no obvious sex or social correlates of the phenomenon. The findings are discussed within the framework of other literature on cranial form and patterns of skull treatment within the Neolithic of the Middle East.
15 pages
Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.

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• Publié par: PALEORIENT
• Publié le: 01 janvier 1992
• Nombre de lectures: 58
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

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Rose Solecki
Peter M. M. G. Akkermans
Anagnostis Agelarakis
Christopher Meiklejohn
Philip E.L. Smith
Artificial cranial deformation in the Proto-neolithic and Neolithic
Near East and its possible origin : Evidence from four sites.
In: Paléorient. 1992, Vol. 18 N°2. pp. 83-97.
Abstract
The discussion of artificial cranial deformation of Near Eastern Neolithic material begun by Lambert's description of six crania
from the Iranian site of Ganj Dareh is developed in this paper. Lambert regarded these specimens as being the earliest reported
cases of the phenomenon in the region. This paper reports on a restudy of the Ganj Dareh material, together with findings
obtained from three further sites, Shanidar Cave in Iraq, Tepe Ghenil in Iran, and Bouqras in Syria. We show the presence of a
series of features that indicate the widespread use of an as yet undetermined form of head-gear that produced alteration in
cranial form. However, in contrast to later examples of deformation there are no obvious sex or social correlates of the
phenomenon. The findings are discussed within the framework of other literature on cranial form and patterns of skull treatment
within the Neolithic of the Middle East.
Résumé
La discussion sur la déformation crânienne artificielle observée au Proche Orient au Néolithique, amorcée par Lambert à partir de
six crânes trouvés sur le site de Ganj Dareh (Iran) est reprise ici. Lambert considérait, pour la région, ces crânes comme étant les
plus anciens ayant pu être affectés par une pareille altération. Le matériel de Ganj Dareh réétudié est confronté aux conclusions
obtenues à partir de matériel trouvé sur trois autres sites : la grotte de Shanidar en Iraq, tepe Ghenil en Iran et Bouqras en Syrie.
La présence des différents traits indique le port très répandu d'une sorte de serre-tête de forme encore indéfinissable qui aurait
entraîné des modifications de la forme du crâne. Cependant, contrairement à certains exemples de déformation plus récents, il
n'y aurait pas de lien évident entre ces modifications et le sexe ou la position sociale des individus. Les résultats obtenus sont
comparés à ceux déjà publiés sur la morphologie crânienne et les traitements de crânes néolithiques au Proche-Orient.
Citer ce document / Cite this document :
Solecki Rose, Akkermans Peter M. M. G., Agelarakis Anagnostis, Meiklejohn Christopher, Smith Philip E.L. Artificial cranial
deformation in the Proto-neolithic and Neolithic Near East and its possible origin : Evidence from four sites. In: Paléorient. 1992,
Vol. 18 N°2. pp. 83-97.
doi : 10.3406/paleo.1992.4574
http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/paleo_0153-9345_1992_num_18_2_4574vol. 18/2 - 1992 PALEORIENT,
ARTIFICIAL CRANIAL DEFORMATION
IN THE PROTO-NEOLITHIC AND NEOLITHIC
NEAR EAST AND ITS POSSIBLE ORIGIN :
EVIDENCE FROM FOUR SITES
С MEIKLEJOHN, A. AGELARAKIS, P.A. AKKERMANS, P.E.L. SMITH
and R. SOLECKI
ABSTRACT. - The discussion of artificial cranial deformation of Near Eastern Neolithic material begun by Lambert's description
of six crania from the Iranian site of Ganj Dareh is developed in this paper. Lambert regarded these specimens as being the
earliest reported cases of the phenomenon in the region. This paper reports on a restudy of the Ganj Dareh material, together
with findings obtained from three further sites, Shanidar Cave in Iraq, Tepe Ghenil in Iran, and Bouqras in Syria. We show the
presence of a series of features that indicate the widespread use of an as yet undetermined form of head-gear that produced
alteration in cranial form. However, in contrast to later examples of deformation there are no obvious sex or social correlates of
the phenomenon. The findings are discussed within the framework of other literature on cranial form and patterns of skull treatment
within the Neolithic of the Middle East.
RÉSUMÉ. - La discussion sur la déformation crânienne artificielle observée au Proche Orient au Néolithique, amorcée par Lambert
à partir de six crânes trouvés sur le site de Ganj Dareh (Iran) est reprise ici. Lambert considérait, pour la région, ces crânes
comme étant les plus anciens ayant pu être affectés par une pareille altération. Le matériel de Ganj Dareh réétudié est confronté
aux conclusions obtenues à partir de matériel trouvé sur trois autres sites : la grotte de Shanidar en Iraq, tepe Ghenil en Iran
et Bouqras en Syrie. La présence des différents traits indique le port très répandu d'une sorte de serre-tête de forme encore
indéfinissable qui aurait entraîné des modifications de la forme du crâne. Cependant, contrairement à certains exemples de dé
formation plus récents, il n'y aurait pas de lien évident entre ces modifications et le sexe ou la position sociale des individus.
Les résultats obtenus sont comparés à ceux déjà publiés sur la morphologie crânienne et les traitements de crânes néolithiques
au Proche-Orient.
BACKGROUND The distribution of cranial deformation
Cranial deformation has been reported in both
Cranial deformation the Old and New World. New World studies have
reported on distribution and types, with particular
Artificial cranial deformation of the human skull attention to the Northwest Coast and the Andes. In
occurs throughout the Old and New Worlds, and the Old World, deformation has been reported from
carries important cultural significance. It has ap all continents.
peared independently a number of times. The li Cranial deformation in Europe and western Asia terature on the phenomenon lies within the historic has been surveyed by Kiszeley (4), who found the framework of a field long fascinated by information earliest reported finds to be from Southwest Asia. provided by the human skull. Dating from the work Dated material of the 7th through 4th millennia ВС of Morton (1), it is centred on the classification of were reported from, in chronological order, Jericho the phenomenon. Early work, based on shapes, was [Palestine; occupied West Bank], Khirokitia [Cylater extended to the technical manner of deformat prus], Byblos [Lebanon], Seyh Hoyiik [Syria], and ion (2). More recent attention concerns the effect Eridu [Iraq] (5). The occurrence at Jericho was conof deformation on skull growth and form (3). This firmed by Kurth and Rôhrer-Ertl (6), and a similar paper deals with geographical distribution and distribution noted by Arensburg and Hershkovitz (7). possible origin in the Near East. Lambert (8) reported on deformation in the Ganj
Finally, we note that, due to the presence of
deformation, any analysis of group affinity that (3) OETTERKING, 1930; MOSS, 1958; BJORK and
relies on the cranial form of these samples must BJORK, 1964; McNEILL and NEWTON, 1965; ANTON, 1989.
remain tentative. (4) KISZELEY, 1978.
(5) All dates in the text are uncalibrated.
(6) KURTH and RÔHRER-ERTL, 1981.
(1) MORTON, 1839. (7) ARENSBURG and HERSHKOVITZ, 1988. The distribu
(2) E.g. BROCA, 1875; IMBELLONI, 1923; FALKENBER- tion noted by ÔZBEK, 1985 is largely of later materials.
GER, 1938. (8) LAMBERT, 1979.
83 :
Dareh series and noted its presence in two further curs in this early period in a belt running from the
Iranian sites AH Kosh (7th millennium) (9), and Iran/Iraq border area, east of the Mesopotamian core,
Seh Gabi (Chalcolithic)(10). This list indicates a to the upper and middle reaches of the Euphrates
broad temporal and geographic span within the Near River in Syria, and, with the occurrence at Jericho,
East. However, distribution prior to ca 5000 ВС to the core of the Levant (fig. 1).
[equivalent to Samarra and Halaf in Mesopotamia]
is limited and episodic. Most later sites with defor
mation show signs of urbanization, and are consider
THE PRIMARY SITES ably larger than those under discussion here.
Some of these sites (e.g. Khirokitia) are large
for their age. Only at Ali Kosh do the remains fit We report material from four Proto-Neolithic the age and smaller site size seen in three of the and Neolithic sites, Shanidar cave, Iraq, dated ca four sites under discussion here. Bouqras, the largest 9000 to 8500 ВС, Ganj Dareh Tepe, Iran, ca 7500 of these sites, appears to be slightly larger than the to 6500 ВС, Tepe Ghenil, Iran, late 8th to early 6th prepottery settlement at Jericho. Despite the incom millennium ВС, and Bouqras, Syria, ca 6500 to pleteness of Lambert's survey, his comments on tem 5500 ВС. The discussion below is primarily conporal distribution are largely correct. cerned with the context of the skeletal remains.
It should also be noted that figurines with ap
parently deformed crania have been reported from
Shanidar Cave the Levant and Mesopotamia, including Byblos,
Ramad [PPNB], and Yarim Tepe, as well as at
This large limestone cave lies about 400 km Bouqras. This is a source of further information that
north of Baghdad in the outer folds of the Iraqi has not been systematically studied.
Zagros Mountains. It is at an elevation of 747 m,
and lies about 2.5 km from the Greater Zab