My picture of replica remains in Arkansas
There has been much talk about elongated skulls and giants. There is evidence of large caucasian people that existed all around the world. There are elongated skulls (without bodies and some with it) that are all around the world (Peru, America, Egypt, Georgia, and China). What caused these elongated skulls is up for discussion. I have found out about a condition called Craniosynostosis. According to wikipedia:
Craniosynostosis (from cranio, cranium; + syn, together; + ostosis relating to bone) is a condition in which one or more of the fibrous sutures in an infant skull prematurely fuses by turning into bone (ossification),[1] thereby changing the growth pattern of the skull.[2] Because the skull cannot expand perpendicular to the fused suture, it compensates by growing more in the direction parallel to the closed sutures.[2] Sometimes the resulting growth pattern provides the necessary space for the growing brain, but results in an abnormal head shape and abnormal facial features.[2] In cases in which the compensation does not effectively provide enough space for the growing brain, craniosynostosis results in increased intracranial pressure leading possibly to visual impairment, sleeping impairment, eating difficulties, or an impairment of mental development combined with a significant reduction in IQ.[3]Taking a look at this condition, I found one condition in particular that may have caused elongated skulls, similar to those found around the world. It is called Scaphocephaly. According to wikipedia:
The literal meaning of the Greek derived word ‘scaphocephaly’ is boathead. A synonymous term is 'dolichocephaly' (the prefix dolicho- means elongated).[25] Premature sagittal suture closure restricts growth in a perpendicular plane, thus the head will not grow sideways and remain narrow.[9][26] This is best seen in a view standing above the child looking downwards at the top of the head.[7] Compensatory growth occurs forwards at the coronal suture and backwards at the lambdoid suture giving respectively a prominent forehead, called frontal bossing, and a prominent back portion of the head, called coning.[9][26] When viewed from sideways the resulting shape of the head will look a bit like a boat.
From what I've found online, there is no clear cut cause that has been found for this condition.
Scaphocephaly (Pronunciation: skaf-O-sef-aly), derived from the Greek skaphe (a light boat or skiff), describes a specific variety of a long narrow head[1] that resembles an inverted boat.
It is a type of cephalic disorder which occurs when there is a premature fusion of the sagittal suture. The sagittal suture joins together the two parietal bones of skull. Scaphocephaly is the most common of the craniosynostosis conditions and is characterized by a long, narrow head.The answer may be simply that a medical condition or head binding created these elongated skulls. If it is genetic, the fact that it appears among families of royalty who interbred, is not a surprise.
by Rita Jean Moran (www.thelibrarykids.com)
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craniosynostosis
http://www.cpcjournal.org/doi/pdf/10.1597/1545-1569(1998)035%3C0204:TDDOAH%3E2.3.CO;2
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1455/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaphocephaly
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolichocephaly
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