The Elongated Skulls of Paracas [VIDEO]
Ancient Aliens?
Could human beings have had larger heads at one point, and possibly greater mental abilities? The answer to this question can only be speculated on, but it is definite that some humans had larger skulls at some point. The elongated skulls of Paracas are evidence of this. These remains prove that there were those who came before us with greater skull volume who were living in what is now southern Peru. Like many mysteries of the ancients, how exactly this came about is a great enigma to present day man.
Modified or Mysterious?
Often the mystery of the elongated skulls of Paracas is written off as intentional body modification, possibly practiced for aesthetic reasons. This is impossible, however. With artificial cranial deformation, which is a practice of body alteration that cultures all over the world have practiced in the past, the skull is elongated by head flattening or head binding when it is still malleable in the first months or years of life. The elongated skulls of Paracas are not only longer, but they are also larger.
According to Brien Foerster, who has extensively researched and written on the subject, some of these skulls had a cranial volume that was as much as 2.5 times as large as the average human skull today. This means that the mysterious skulls must have been the result of genetics, not body modification.
Be sure to listen to an interview we did with Brien Foerester here:
Podcast Episode #30 – Living Ancient Cultures NOW with Brien Foerester
Discovering the Elongated Skulls of Paracas
The Paracas Peninsula was excavated by the great Peruvian archaeologist Julio Tello in the 1920s. He found a series of tombs as well as the remains of a small underground village. Today most of these graves are filled with sand blown in from the nearby ocean. It was here that Tello found dozens of these strange skulls.
He believed the people of Paracas were related to another Andean culture, the Chavin culture, which is thought to have originated more than 3000 years ago. The only problem with this assumption is that no elongated skulls have been found within the remains of the Chavin culture. What was the genetic history of the Paracas culture?
The eye sockets are larger than the average human
Worldwide Phenomena
Today about one dozen skulls can be viewed at the Paracas History Museum, which features artifacts from Inca and pre-Inca cultures. Until the elongated skulls of Paracas are more intensely researched, their origin and development will remain unexplained. Brien Foerster has taken samples from some of the skulls to try to gain more insight into their origin.
Were people really born with these massive heads?
The elongated skulls of Paracas were not the only strange skulls that have been discovered. Elongated heads were part of ancient Egyptian culture. The Olmecs of Mexico and ancient peoples of the Mediterranean and Melanesia were also thought to have these larger skulls, although they were not necessarily as large as the Paracas samples. It appears that theses other skulls were elongated artificially.
The Paracas skulls are unique. They have specific features, such as two small holes in the back of the skulls that are not present on normal human skulls. These physical features indicate that these skulls were elongated at birth. The question remains then, where did the genetic code for these skulls originate, or, are they really human skulls at all?
Our visit to the Paracas History Museum led to a wonderful conversation and explanation by Brien Forester (of the museum & of the Peru based Hidden Inca Tours Company) .
The Paracas History Museum, founded by Juan Navarro, is the only archaeological and human history museum in the immediate area. There was once a Julio Tello Museum in the Paracas Marine Reserve, but it was destroyed by an earthquake 4 years ago. This museum has the finest collection of Paracas, Nasca, Chavin, Lambayeque, Wari, Chincha and Inca artifacts on the south coast of Peru.
Beyond the fact that this museum, which is privately owned and has and asks for no government help what so ever, is a fine display of 10,000 years of human habitation in the area of Paracas, it also houses the largest collection of Elongated Human Skulls, in private hands, in the world.
10,000 Years Of Peru History In 5 Minutes
About the Author:
Lainie and her son Miro are living a location independent lifestyle, slow traveling around the globe and living in the present moment. Lainie writes about staying inspired, participating as a global citizen, volunteering, unschooling and natural learning. Guiding their experiences is the empowered choice to experience in the world without fear.
Lainie Liberti – who has written 394 posts on Raising Miro on the Road of Life - Travel Podcast.
When will the genetic info be available? So curious! :D
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ilainie Reply:
February 6th, 2012 at 9:41 am
I am not sure. Follow the links to Brien’s site. He’d be the one to ask. He’s really approachable and knowledgable. He can also be found on my facebook friends list.
[Reply]
Fascinating subject matter!
I’ve come across this before too. Well twice. Have a look see at the Mayans around the time of King Pakal. They often used stone blocks at birth strapped to heads in order to physically elongate the heads of their elite.
A long forehead was a sign of increased nobility and intelligence!
Now zip over to India and read up on the Rat people. Ongoing cranial deformations ongoing today in order to appease the rats, and to make cash form begging etc.
Very interesting subject matter! And great article, keep it up and you’ll make it into the Smithsonian!
[Reply]
ilainie Reply:
February 6th, 2012 at 9:39 am
Thanks Dave! I find ancient cultures so interesting. It’s driven our touring for the last 3 years. I actually can’t seem to get enough of it. We visited the Mayan sites and I studied them. The first age of Maya used to train their eyes to be permanently crossed eyes from an early age. I think it was so they could enhance their peripheral vision in order to learn how to see from their whole body, expand their consciousness and communicate telepathically like their alien mentors. I can’t wait to visit the Rat people in India and the ancients in Egypt (also with elongated heads). Love this beautiful world we call home, so interesting to explore!!
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Many thanks for making this!
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ilainie Reply:
July 9th, 2012 at 9:12 am
Thanks for participating! We are so honored!
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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!! I have been fascinated with the skulls, but didn’t know much about them. I watched one documentary on them and hadn’t seen much info since then. You are so lucky you got to go see them, as is Miro!!
[Reply]
ilainie Reply:
July 9th, 2012 at 9:12 am
I’m so fascinated by them too!
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Wow! How fascinating. Wish I’d had the time to stop in Paracas and Nazca on my recent tour of Peru, but reading your article is the next best thing.
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ilainie Reply:
July 9th, 2012 at 9:12 am
Thanks Barbara!
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My boys and I were diggin these videos and pictures! Thanks Lainie!
[Reply]
ilainie Reply:
July 9th, 2012 at 9:11 am
Thanks Amy!
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[...] On our blog, we have shared with you posts about many of the places we’ve traveled and lived at including the infamous beach town of Mancora, Huanchaco, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Huaraz, Nasca and Paracas. [...]
[...] van de schedel, ook wel Artificial Cranial Modification: Head Shaping genoemd. Toch zijn er schedels gevonden waarbij de hoeveelheid aangemaakt bot, niet te verklaren is door ‘head [...]
[...] Welcome to episode #30 of the Raising Miro Podcast. Episod #30 contains an interview with noted researcher & author, Brien Foerester. (See below for his bio & links) We had the honor of meeting him in person last December when we visited the Paracas History Museum, home of the largest collection of elongated skulls. [...]
So cool! We would have loved to have seen this museum when we were in Peru!
[Reply]
ilainie Reply:
July 9th, 2012 at 9:11 am
You missed a lot when you zipped through Peru. Guess you better plan a return trip.
[Reply]
So cool! We would have loved to have seen this museum when we were in Peru!
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How cool! I would love to check this museum out. I reckon it would be awesome.
[Reply]
ilainie Reply:
July 9th, 2012 at 9:10 am
You should Spencer! It’s an incredible collection!
[Reply]
[...] of mystery, home to so many ancient civilizations including the Moche, Chimu, Incas, Nasca, Paracas, Lima, Wari, Chavin, Lambayeque cultures to name a few. Surprisingly all of these cultures have [...]
[...] books, and seen his appearence on Ancient Aliens. I was so excited when we met him in person at the Paracas History Museum. I was doubly honored when he agreed to an interview for one of our podcasts, found here: Living [...]
[...] of mystery, home to so many ancient civilizations including the Moche, Chimu, Incas, Nasca, Paracas, Lima, Wari, Chavin, Lambayeque cultures to name a few. Surprisingly all of these cultures have [...]
[...] had offered to help catalog the collections of elongated skulls currently at the Paracas History Museum. Miro and I have made the trip 4 hours south of Lima to [...]
[...] There is much history in this country to discover and appreciate including the Moche, Chimu, Inca, Paracas, Nazca, Wari, Chincha cultures to name a [...]
[...] as the human remains eternally rest without protest. And this is the very site where many of the enigmatic elongated skulls of Paracas were uncovered as [...]
[...] then there’s the enigma of the elongated skulls we learned about in Paracas, Peru. Having the opportunity to personally touch, hold and photograph [...]
Interesting article. Great topic.
[Reply]
[...] Each time Miro and I experience elongated skulls in museums across Peru, we question whether or not we are looking into the remains of ‘ancient aliens‘. [...]
[...] skulls in the collection of this private museum. The Paracas History Museum is the home of the largest collection of elongated skulls in [...]
[...] skulls in the collection of this private museum. The Paracas History Museum is the home of the largest collection of elongated skulls in [...]
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Miro & Lainie (mother 46 and 13 year old son) share their adventures from the Road of Life, discussing issues of humanity, global citizenship, unschooling, slow travel, family travel, volunteering, travel inspiration & living in the moment as they explore the big beautiful planet, they call home.
Three and half years, 12 countries and many personal changes later, Lainie & Miro continue to slow travel around the globe, living an inspired possession-free-lifestyle, volunteering and learning naturally. They are following their interests on the road, as the planet has been transformed into their classroom. Often you will hear Lainie say “we are blessed to be accidental unschoolers” and has become and an advocate for “life learning” at any age. Lainie & Miro describe their greatest accomplishment as the ability to participate in the world without fear.Connect with Us!
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