An image of ancient human skeletal remains unearthed at Hirota ruins reveals distinctive attributes like numerous shell ornaments, reflecting the culture and trade of the region during that time. Credit: The Kyushu University Museum.
A group of international researchers has uncovered evidence that the Hirota community, inhabiting Tanegashima Island in southern Japan from the late Yayoi era to the Kofun era (3rd to 7th century CE), engaged in the practice of altering the shape of skulls.
The team from Kyushu University and the University of Montana has provided fresh perspectives on the age-old practice of deliberate cranial deformation, a phenomenon that has been observed across various ancient civilizations, including the Hirota people.
This ancient community in Tanegashima, a southern island of Japan, performed cranial shaping from the 3rd to the 7th centuries CE, as revealed in a recent report in PLOS ONE. Notably, the study did not find any significant differences between males and females in the practice, implying both genders participated in it.
Cranial deformation involves modifying the human skull by pressing or binding it, usually during childhood, to achieve permanent changes in shape. This practice predates recorded history, with researchers suggesting it might have been used to indicate membership in a group or symbolize social standing.
3D images of skulls from the Hirota site and the Doigahama site were examined to contrast skull forms between the groups. The Hirota site’s skull (right) shows a more compressed back, indicating deliberate deformation compared to the skulls from the Doigahama site (left). Credit: Seguchi Lab/Kyushu University.
Noriko Seguchi from Kyushu University’s Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies, who spearheaded the study, explains, “The Hirota site on Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, has been associated with cranial deformation for a long time. It’s a major burial ground dating from around the 3rd century CE (Yayoi Period) to the 5th and 7th century CE (Kofun Period) for the Hirota community.”
The site was excavated twice, and remains showing cranial alterations, particularly in the occipital bone and the back parts of the parietal bones, were discovered. However, it remained ambiguous whether these changes were intentional or accidental.
In the study, a combination of 2D and 3D imaging was employed to analyze the skulls’ shapes, along with a comparison of data from other archeological sites in Japan. The team conducted a statistical analysis of the contours and shapes between different skulls.
A current photograph of the Hirota site in Tanegashima, Japan, shows markers indicating burial spots, along with sex and age notes. Credit: The Kyushu University Museum.
Seguchi continues, “Our findings showed unique cranial forms and significant statistical differences between the Hirota individuals and samples from Kyushu Island Jomon and Doigahama Yayoi. There was evidence of intentional deformation in the skull, particularly in the occipital bone and certain sutures.”
While the exact motivations behind this custom are still uncertain, the researchers theorize that the Hirota people reshaped their skulls to maintain group identity or possibly enhance long-distance shellfish trade, as supported by artifacts at the site.
Seguchi concludes, “This discovery greatly enhances our knowledge of the ancient practice of intentional cranial deformation, and we hope that further exploration will shed more light on the cultural and social importance of this tradition in East Asia and globally.”
Reference: “Investigating intentional cranial modification: A hybridized two-dimensional/three-dimensional study of the Hirota site, Tanegashima, Japan” by Noriko Seguchi, James Frances Loftus III, Shiori Yonemoto, and Mary-Margaret Murphy, 16 August 2023, PLOS ONE.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289219
The research was sponsored by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: cranial modification
What is cranial modification, and where was it practiced?
Cranial modification is a form of body alteration where the head is pressed or bound to deform the skull, usually performed at an early age. In the context of this text, this practice was identified among the Hirota community on Tanegashima Island in southern Japan, from the late Yayoi era to the Kofun era (3rd to 7th century CE).
Who conducted the research on cranial modification in the Hirota community?
Researchers from Kyushu University and the University of Montana conducted the study on intentional cranial modification in the Hirota community.
Was cranial modification only practiced by a specific gender in the Hirota community?
No, the research did not show any notable differences between genders, suggesting that both men and women in the Hirota community engaged in the practice of cranial modification.
What were the methods used in the study to analyze cranial modification?
The research group employed a hybrid approach using 2D images to analyze the shapes of the skulls’ outlines and 3D scans of their surface. They also compared crania data from other archeological sites in Japan and statistically analyzed the contours and shapes between the skulls.
What are the possible motivations behind the practice of cranial modification in the Hirota community?
While the exact motivations remain unclear, researchers hypothesize that the Hirota people may have deformed their crania to preserve group identity or potentially facilitate long-distance trade of shellfish, as supported by archaeological evidence found at the site.
Who funded the study on intentional cranial modification at the Hirota site?
The study was funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
More about fokus keyword: cranial modification
- Kyushu University
- University of Montana
- PLOS ONE Journal Article
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
