Boards and Cords: An Anthropological Study of Cranial Modification

Archaeological evidence and ethnohistoric accounts document ancient groups from around the world intentionally binding their infants’ head in one of two manners. Soon after birth they would either strap hard, flat devices (e.g., boards) to both the front and back of the infant’s head, or wrap tight bandages (e.g., cords) around the head. The result is a permanently modified, adult head.

In Boards and Cords, bioarchaeologist and skeletal biologist, Tyler G. O’Brien, explores the long-practic...