جمجمه های انسانی تغییرشکل یافته در چِگاسفلی

Modified human skulls are among the unique finds recovered from archaeological contexts. They exhibit various forms of deformation, which can be attributed to factors such as diseases, cultural practices, post-burial lithostatic pressure, and life history events. Particularly significant are intentionally deformed skulls, with examples, albeit in small numbers, found throughout Southwest Asia, not to mention the Iranian Plateau. However, these skulls have not received adequate attention in Iran due to problems such as focusing on other research priorities during excavations and the imbalance in the analysis of the various types of excavation findings. Examples of such skulls have been unearthed from the Neolithic sites in the Central Zagros. Recently, excavations at Tol-e Chega Sofla in the Zohreh Plain (Behbahan, Khuzestan) have yielded thirteen skull specimens with deformed proportions in a relatively well-preserved state. Hence, there is an excellent opportunity to study such skulls within the context of the Iranian Plateau. The study of the deformed skulls of Chega Sofla reveals similarities in the methods of skull deformation with the other areas of Southwest Asia. At Tol-e Chega Sofla, the practice of skull deformation using bandages is evident, along with various other traditions of cranial modification. The BG1 mass grave samples show similarities with the Ali Kosh and Seyh Hüyük skulls, while the BG6.1 specimen does not resemble any of the BG1 mass grave skulls and is similar to the modified skull of Burial no.5 in Chagha Sefid. It is worth mentioning that unintentional skull deformation, resulting in the flattening of some parts of the occipital bone, has also been observed in Chega Sofla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]