Deformed, Cone-Shaped Skull from Dark Ages Unearthed in France

Is it an alien? The skull certainly looks like it with its pointy shape. Archaeologists have uncovered a deformed, cone-shaped skull that once belonged to an aristocratic woman in France. The findings reveal a little bit more about the culture at the time of the woman's death.

The necropolis where the aristocratic woman's skeleton was discovered can be found in the Alsace region of France. It contains 38 tombs that span more than 4,000 years from the Stone Age to the Dark Ages, according to the Huffington Post. In addition to the skeleton in the tomb, the archaeologists unearthed chatelaines, which are decorative belt hooks and chains worn at the waist, a bronze mirror and a stag antler comb, according to The Daily Mail.

While these findings tell a little bit more about the person buried there--mainly that she was wealthy--the skull is the more interesting aspect of the burial chamber. It's likely that the deformation of the skull was intentional and was accomplished with a practice called head flattening or head binding. Usually beginning about a month after birth, it continued for six months or until the proper shape was achieved.

"The deformation of the skull with the help of bandages and small boards is a practice coming from central Asia," said lead archaeologist Phillip Lefranc in an interview with LiveScience.com. In fact, the practice was made popular by the Huns and spread to Europe during the time of the Roman Empire, according to The Daily Mail. Early examples of cranial deformation date back to about 45,000 BC and can even be found in the skulls of Neanderthals in southwest Asia.

This deformed skull is actually a sign that the person was privileged and wealthy. Dating to be about 1,650-years-old, the graves that the archaeologists uncovered likely belonged to mercenary soldiers from the East and their families. These mercenaries were most likely employed by the Roman Army during the last days of the Roman Empire.

The findings reveal a little bit more about the ancient burial practices that occurred at this time. In addition, they also show a little bit more about life at the time. 

Want to see the skull? Check out the image here.