Culture & skeletal system: Foot-binding and artificial cranial modification

Cultural practices that modify the skeletal system

Foot-binding Head Flattening (Artificial Cranial Modification)

Foot-binding in China• Cultural practice

lasted from 10th century to 1911 (banned by new Chinese republic)

• Girls had feet bound between 4-6 years old

• Bending toes under sole of foot, using ribbons to wrap feet (breaking bones to alter foot shape)

X-rays of Bound Feet

Food-Binding Practice • Influences walking posture by changing foot shape• More prone to falling, hip/spine problems

Artificial Cranial Modification: Head Flattening

• Human skull is made up of 6 bones, malleable during childhood

• Can apply pressure to change shape of skull, bones will ossify into new shape– Using cradle boards– Bands of fabric around head

Widespread Cultural Practice

• Modified skulls found in Peru (6000-7000 BCE)

• Among Maya, Inca, tribes of Native Americans – Chinookan tribes

in NW– Choctaw in SE

50cm mummified head found in Peru in city of Andahuaylillas