CRANIAL DEFORMATION OF THE NEOLITHIC MAN FROM THE HAUSLABJOCH

In the 5000 year old mummy from the Hauslabjoch in the Tyrolean Alps, the observation that some of the soft parts of the face were distorted was the first indication that there had occurred processes causing de formation to the head. This was thought to be due to the specific cond itions in which the body lay in the ice of the glacier. This deformati on appears to have been insufficiently considered in the craniometric investigation. The method of trigonometric analysis and description of the median sagittal plane developed by the authors permits regional i dentification and quantitative representation of the deformation. This method demonstrates quite massive postmortem deformation particularly in the middle part of the face and the base of the skull. Not only do several of the distances and angles in these areas clearly deviate fr om those of a series of recent European skulls, but also some of the i cemanos cranial dimensions are contrary to what would be expected from the total, allometric interrelations of the skull. The results obtain ed on the deformation are discussed with respect to the specific enclo sure in the ice of the glacier, physical regularities of the pressures to which the body was subjected, and the conditions surrounding the d eath of the man from the Hauslabjoch.