Cranial deformations in an Iron Age population from Münsingen‐Rain, Switzerland

Abstract

The aim of this paper is an examination of cranial fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and deformations in the prehistoric population of Mü nsingen-Rain (La Tè ne period, Switzerland). The material consists of 76 skulls. Three cases of craniosynostosis, one scaphocephalic skull with complete obliteration of the sagittal suture and two plagiocephalic skulls were identified. CT scans showed that premature closure of the frontosphenoidal suture caused these plagiocephalies. For three asymmetrically deformed skulls, differential diagnosis indicates torticollis (wry neck). Another four skulls exhibit strongly developed asymmetries of the cranium and mandible, but an aetiological diagnosis was not possible. In order to evaluate the degree of fluctuating asymmetry of the population, landmarks of the skulls were digitally measured in 3D and angle calculations were made. A reference group of 30 skulls was used for comparison.

The scaphocephalic skull of an adult male

“…Scaphocephaly resulting from premature closure of the sagittal suture is one of the types of cranial deformation documented in osteoarcheological materials from different historical periods [7,13,14,28]. The skull being the subject of the present study is of unknown historical and geographical origin.…”

“…There is only limited number of reports on adult craniosynostosis [14,17]. Therefore we present a case of an adult unoperated scaphocephalic skull and compare its diameters to the normal skulls and similar cases described in the literature.…”

The earliest evidence of true lambdoid craniosynostosis: the case of “Benjamina”, a Homo heidelbergensis child

“…Prokopec et al's research on human remains of Australian aborigines (8,000-7,000 years BC) includes the description of a 5-year-old child with generalized craniosynostosis and pitting of the occipital bones attributed to anemia [34]. Kutterer and Alt have provided a study of 76 skulls from the prehistoric population of Münsingen-Rain in Switzerland that included three cases of craniosynostosis, one with scaphocephaly and complete fusion of the sagittal suture, and two with anterior plagiocephaly due to closure of the fronto-sphenoidal suture [26]. Seven additional skulls showed diverse craniofacial asymmetry of undetermined nature [26].…”

“…Kutterer and Alt have provided a study of 76 skulls from the prehistoric population of Münsingen-Rain in Switzerland that included three cases of craniosynostosis, one with scaphocephaly and complete fusion of the sagittal suture, and two with anterior plagiocephaly due to closure of the fronto-sphenoidal suture [26]. Seven additional skulls showed diverse craniofacial asymmetry of undetermined nature [26]. Shapiro reports briefly the nomenclature of the diverse forms of abnormal head shapes appearing in the 'Talmud' [39].…”

“…Pospíšilová and Procházková studied 745 dry skulls (645 adults and 98 children) from Broumov Ossuary in the Czech Republic (13th-18th centuries), and found plagiocephaly in 14.2% of the specimens [26]. Deformational posterior plagiocephaly was discovered in 93 instances (12.48%) and true lambdoid synostosis in 13 (1.74%) cases [33].…”