Japan's Ancient Indigenous Group Hirota Practiced Skull Deformation for Centuries, Study Reveals

For millennia, human societies have engaged in deliberate body modifications, and among these practices, skull deformation stands out as particularly intriguing. Across various cultures and epochs, intentional alteration of skull shapes has been observed globally.

A recent study, titled "Investigating Intentional Cranial Modification: A Hybridized Two-Dimensional/Three-Dimensional Study of the Hirota Site, Tanegashima, Japan" published in the journal PLOS ONE, reports that for 400 years an Indigenous community in Japan practiced intentional skull deformation, reshaping the skulls of their infant children.

Mysterious Flat Skulls of Ancient Indigenous Group Excavated in Japan

While skull deformation is observed in other parts of Asia, instances of deliberate cranial reshaping are rare in Japan. The practice may have occurred exclusively on Tanegashima Island during the 3rd to 7th centuries CE.

Unlike more pronounced examples, these modifications were understated, potentially allowing other unintentional factors to be considered. Comprehensive DNA analysis has now verified that the inhabitants of the Hirota site, now identified as the location, intentionally modified their skull shapes in both men and women.

Anthropologist Noriko Seguchi of Kyushu University in Japan explained that the Hirota site has been linked with skull deformation for centuries with extensive burial ground that shows its indigenous group practiced it from the 3rd century during Yayoi Period through the 5th to 7th centuries during the Kofun Period.

The excavation of the Hirota site was carried out in two phases, first from 1957 to 1959, and later from 2005 to 2006. During the first excavation, Seguchi said that remains displaying skull deformations were discovered, marked by a shortened head and a flattened rear skull, particularly affecting the occipital bone and posterior regions of the parietal bones.

In-Depth Analysis of Hirota Skulls

The team of researchers conducted a comprehensive investigation, encompassing analysis of the overall 2D skull shape alongside 3D scans of the skeletal remains. These skulls were then compared to those of the Yayoi and Jomon populations, who inhabited other regions of Japan during the same era.

Notably, all the Hirota individuals with cranial deformations exhibited a consistent alteration resulting in a slightly reduced head length and a flattened posterior skull. Seguchi, the study's lead author, said that the analysis highlighted strikingly similar damage to the occipital bone at the skull's base, in addition to observable depressions within areas connecting the bones.

The reasons behind the Hirota people's decision to modify their infants' skulls remain unclear. One hypothesis is that this practice could have served as a means of differentiation from other communities, as suggested by the researchers. To delve deeper into the motivations for artificial cranial deformation (ACD), the team intends to investigate additional ancient skulls with similar modifications from the region.

Artificial cranial deformation (ACD) has been found in historical groups like the Huns, medieval European women, Maya, certain Native American tribes, and the ancient Paracas civilization in Peru. The elongated skulls of the Paracas culture are often misinterpreted by conspiracy theorists as proof of aliens.

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