As an Archaeologist and Anthropologist I'm
familiar with head binding.
And had trouble with then 'scientific' explanations.
Artificial cranial deformation, head flattening, or head binding is a body alteration practice during which the skull of a human being is intentionally deformed. It is done by distorting the normal growth of a child's skull by applying force. Flat shapes, elongated ones (produced by binding between two pieces ofwood), rounded ones (binding in cloth) and conical ones are among those chosen. It is typically carried out on an infant, as the skull is most pliable at this time. In a typical case, 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 asintelligence. For example, in the Nahai-speaking area of Tomman Island and the south south-western Malakulan, a person with a finely elongated head is thought to be more intelligent, of higher status, and closer to the world of the spirits.
SOURCE:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_cranial_deformation
Often when anthropologist are confronted with
something beyond current comprehension they
might use " Cultural phenomena " as an explanation.
And I think this happened with skull binding.
The had a link and drummed it away.
"a person with a finely elongated head is thought to be more
intelligent, of higher status, and closer to the world of the spirits."
A National Geographic special may shed some light on this
Binding.
ACCIDENTAL GENIUS
In one case the brain blood vessels break or leak
Causing pressure on parts of the brain causing
a flood of creativity.
Could the pressure of skull binding lead to the same
creative symptoms?
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/accidental-genius-3739/Videos#tab-Videos/05300_00
Certainly worth the consideration.
Were they in shaping the skulls by binding,
applying pressure to the brain its self which
changed the workings of their Intellect?
As the pressure in the brain of some of the subjects of
the Natl. Geo program change their intellect?
Gerald
Anthropologist
. Sphere: Related Content
2 comments:
I have been thinking this same thing. I am wondering if pressing the two hemispheres of the brain together changes a persons thought processes. I guess the only real thing I can add here... is I think that bridging that gap between the two hemispheres would create some interesting effects. I believe there are places in the world where they still do this. It would be interesting to do a study of these people. I bet you anything... there is some significant change in their mental ability. Not necessarily smarter... but ... different.
Thanks for sharing this article very cool
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