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Cultural practices that modify the skeletal system Foot-binding Head Flattening (Artificial Cranial Modification)
Cultural practices that modify the skeletal system
Foot-binding Head Flattening (Artificial Cranial Modification)
Foot-binding in China• Cultural practice
lasted from 10th century to 1911 (banned by new Chinese republic)
• Girls had feet bound between 4-6 years old
• Bending toes under sole of foot, using ribbons to wrap feet (breaking bones to alter foot shape)
X-rays of Bound Feet
Food-Binding Practice • Influences walking posture by changing foot shape• More prone to falling, hip/spine problems
Artificial Cranial Modification: Head Flattening
• Human skull is made up of 6 bones, malleable during childhood
• Can apply pressure to change shape of skull, bones will ossify into new shape– Using cradle boards– Bands of fabric around head
Widespread Cultural Practice
• Modified skulls found in Peru (6000-7000 BCE)
• Among Maya, Inca, tribes of Native Americans – Chinookan tribes
in NW– Choctaw in SE
50cm mummified head found in Peru in city of Andahuaylillas
