Latest news with #MahdiAlirezazadeh
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Intrigued by Conical Skull Found in Ancient Burial Ground
Archaeologists in Iran have discovered an ancient cone-shaped skull that is believed to have belonged to a teen girl — and there are signs of tragedy in her bones. As Live Science reports, the skull, which was found in a prehistoric burial ground known as Chega Sofla without its corresponding skeleton, shows signs not only of intentional modification, but also possibly fatal blunt force trauma. Dated to roughly 6,200 years old, the strange cone shape of the skull appears to be the product of a practice archaeologists today call artificial cranial modification, a process similar to foot-binding in which the soft skulls of children are bandaged to deliberately deform them. Found across cultures and millennia, this type of body modification has been undertaken for various reasons, including to denote social status or adhere to beauty standards, as evidenced by it more often being seen in girls than boys. Though it's still occasionally practiced today, the practice sometimes referred to as "skull elongation" was far more common in prehistoric times. The girl with the conical skull in this study, for instance, was believed to have lived in the fifth millennium BCE. Aside from the cone-shaped cranium of the young woman, who was believed to be younger than the age of 20, archaeologists Mahdi Alirezazadeh and Hamed Vahdati Nasab of the Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran — who also authored a study about their discovery that was recently published in the International Journal of Osteoarcheology — also found a long, unhealed fracture on the back of the skull that likely killed her. "We know this woman experienced the fracture in the final moments of her life," Alirezazadeh told Live Science, "but we don't have any direct evidence to say that someone intentionally struck her." Though it's unclear whether the ancient teen in question was intentionally killed or died by accident, the researchers believe that the modified shape of her skull likely made it weaker and more susceptible to trauma than a conventional cranium. Along with pointing out that an unmodified fractured skull was found alongside the conical skull in the portion of Chega Sofia where they were working, Alirezazadeh also noted that whatever killed the latter "was so severe that it would have fractured a normal, unmodified skull as well." More on head science: Scientists Want You to Ink an Electronic Tattoo On Your Forehead So Your Boss Can Detect Your Mental State
Newsweek
13-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Archaeologists Find Cone-Headed Girl's Skull From 6,200 Years Ago
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Archaeologists excavating an ancient graveyard in Iran discovered what they believe to be a young woman's skull which had been intentionally modified. Researchers at the Chega Sofla cemetery, which dates back to the fifth millennium B.C., found the remains of a young woman, whose skull had cranial bandaging, which changes the morphology of the skull. In her case, intentional bandaging likely from childhood had left her with a cone-shaped head. Researcher Mahdi Alirezazadeh told Newsweek: "This skull was modified and dates back about 6,000 years. It belonged to a woman under the age of 20. A transverse fracture extends from the anterior part of the frontal bone and it also fractured the left parietal bone." "Our study of the fracture pattern indicates that this injury occurred in the final moments of the young woman's life and there is no evidence of bone healing. This young woman passed away following this trauma." Hinge fractures were noted on the skull on both the left parietal and frontal bones, with researchers using CT scan images and sectional slices for analysis, allowing archaeologists insight into the changes of skull thickness and nature of the skull fractures. A skull found in an ancient burial ground in Iran, which appears to have been modified. A skull found in an ancient burial ground in Iran, which appears to have been modified. Mahdi Alirezazadeh/ Hamed Vahdati Nasab/ International Journal of Osteoarcheology Examination of the cone-headed skull revealed diagnostic features that allowed the team to determine that the skeleton belonged to a young woman—likely less than 20 years old. Despite the fractures, the bones had remained connected to each other. This, coupled with the fact that there were no signs of healing, suggests they occurred perimortem—at the time of death, or close to the moment of death. Mahdi said it was "important to note that the intentional cranial modification during the first two years of life had affected the biomechanics of the skull, making it more vulnerable to damage compared to a normal skull. "However, the severity of the impact was such that even a normal skull would have been fractured." The researchers believe that the fractures may have been caused by a high-force impact, perhaps with a heavy object. Imaging of the skull, which allows researchers to determine how the woman may have died. Imaging of the skull, which allows researchers to determine how the woman may have died. Mahdi Alirezazadeh/ Hamed Vahdati Nasab/ International Journal of Osteoarcheology External mechanical forces—in this case, cranial bandaging—can cause changes to the shape of the skull. The specimen was shown to have lost natural curvature in the frontal, occipital, and parietal bones, and reduced the thickness of the skull, leading it to be weaker than a normal skull, meaning the impact may have caused more damage in the woman than it would to someone with a natural skull shape. As the fractured bones were not found to be turned aside or penetrated by the object, it is also believed that the object was smooth, and did not have sharp edges to it. Alirezazadeh told Newsweek that in this cemetery alone, "there are other interesting samples that we are currently working on. "Some of the results have been published, and some are in the final stages of publication and submission to scientific journals." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about archaeology? Let us know via science@ Reference Alirezazadeh, M., & Vahdati Nasab, H. (2025). A Young Woman From the Fifth Millennium BCE in Chega Sofla Cemetery With a Modified and Hinge Fractured Cranium, Southwestern Iran. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ancient cone-shaped skull shows signs of fatal trauma
Archeologists have spent over a decade excavating an ancient graveyard in western Iran known as Chegla Sofla. The Copper Age site contains a trove of skeletal remains, offering insight about regional life approximately 6,200 years ago, and even contains the oldest-known tomb constructed from brick. However, one of the most recent finds isn't a feat of engineering, but of body modification: the skull of a young girl with distinct evidence of cranial modification. And according to the team's conclusions recently detailed in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, she died from head trauma—but it's unclear what or who caused it. The practice of artificial head elongation has been documented across cultures around the world dating back millennia, including societies in Eurasia, Africa, South America, and the Americas. The desired results were typically accomplished by tightly binding a child's head with cloth bandages for years in order to mold their pliable cranial bones into the desired conical shape. Some of the earliest examples date to 9th millennium BCE proto-Neolithic groups living in present-day Iraq. But based on discoveries at Chegla Sofla, similar traditions extended well into the 5th millennium. Archeologists including experts at Iran's Tarbiat Modares University analyzed the remains to better understand their subject after excavating the skull of a young woman estimated to be under 20 years old. To do this, the team used computing tomography (CT) scanning to assess both her cranial bones and diploe—the spongy part of bones that function as shock absorbers. They determined her skull was thinner than usual—a feature indicative of cranial binding. CT scans also revealed a fracture extending from the front of the skull all the way to the rear with no signs of healing. The injury's severity is particularly prominent in the form of a triangular fracture along the left parietal bone's sagittal border. Further examination made it clear the injury was inflicted by a blunt object that did not penetrate the cranial vault. But beyond these findings, it's hard to know the circumstances surrounding her death. 'We know this woman experienced the fracture in the final moments of her life, but we don't have any direct evidence to say that someone intentionally struck her,' study lead author Mahdi Alirezazadeh told Live Science. While cranial elongation resulted in thinner bones more prone to fracturing, it seems clear that even a naturally developed skull wouldn't have fared well against the injury. 'It should be noted that the blow was so severe that it would have fractured a normal, unmodified skull as well,' explained Alirezazadeh. Unfortunately, there's little else currently available that might clarify the woman's final moments. Although her skull has been recovered, the same can't be said for the rest of her skeleton. Her remains were found in a mass grave at Chegla Sofla, so it may be a while before experts match the skull to other bones.
Scottish Sun
06-06-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Grim ‘cone-headed' skull that was BASHED IN 6,200 years ago found among mass grave as experts probe brutal death
Was it murder or a tragic accident? BIG DIG Grim 'cone-headed' skull that was BASHED IN 6,200 years ago found among mass grave as experts probe brutal death SCIENTISTS have uncovered a mass grave dating back 6,200 years - and one of the dead met their end in a particularly grim way. A woman's head appears to have been brutally bashed in by a broad-edged object. 2 Mass grave was uncovered in Iran Credit: Zohreh Prehistoric Project 2 Unclear if the brutal death was a result of murder or an accident Credit: Mahdi Alirezazadeh Experts noticed a very prominent triangular fracture on the left side of the head. But they're stumped about whether it was a deliberate act of murder or a tragic accident. The skeleton was part of a major haul unearthed in Iran. Archaeologists also spotted something strange about the woman's head shape too. The skull is cone-shaped which suggests it was deliberately modified when she was a child in a process known as cranial bandaging. This is where fabric is wrapped around the head tightly around the skull of young ones when it's much softer. Others with the same type of skull were buried alongside the woman. Researchers studying the remains say the skull in question would have been weaker at withstanding such a harsh blow to the head. However, the strike was so tough that it still would have killed her even if she had an unmodified skull. "It should be noted that the blow was so severe that it would have fractured a normal, unmodified skull as well," Professor Mahdi Alirezazadeh, from Tarbiat Modares University in Iran, told LiveScience. Grave of decapitated 'vampire' discovered in Knights Templar fortress "So we cannot attribute cranial fractures solely to modified skulls." He continued: "We know this woman experienced the fracture in the final moments of her life, but we don't have any direct evidence to say that someone intentionally struck her." Their research was published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
The Irish Sun
06-06-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Grim ‘cone-headed' skull that was BASHED IN 6,200 years ago found among mass grave as experts probe brutal death
SCIENTISTS have uncovered a mass grave dating back 6,200 years - and one of the dead met their end in a particularly grim way. A woman's head appears to have been brutally bashed in by a broad-edged object. Advertisement 2 Mass grave was uncovered in Iran Credit: Zohreh Prehistoric Project 2 Unclear if the brutal death was a result of murder or an accident Credit: Mahdi Alirezazadeh Experts noticed a very prominent triangular fracture on the left side of the head. But they're stumped about whether it was a deliberate act of murder or a tragic accident. The skeleton was part of a major haul unearthed in Iran. Archaeologists also spotted something strange about the woman's head shape too. Advertisement The skull is cone-shaped which suggests it was deliberately modified when she was a child in a process known as This is where fabric is wrapped around the head tightly around the skull of young ones when it's much softer. Others with the same type of skull were buried alongside the woman. Researchers studying the remains say the skull in question would have been weaker at withstanding such a harsh blow to the head. Advertisement Most read in Science Exclusive Exclusive However, the strike was so tough that it still would have killed her even if she had an unmodified skull. "It should be noted that the blow was so severe that it would have fractured a normal, unmodified skull as well," Professor Mahdi Alirezazadeh, from Tarbiat Modares University in Iran, told Grave of decapitated 'vampire' discovered in Knights Templar fortress "So we cannot attribute cranial fractures solely to modified skulls." He continued: "We know this woman experienced the fracture in the final moments of her life, but we don't have any direct evidence to say that someone intentionally struck her." Advertisement Their research was published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
