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 one 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 at one point 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.

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) .

PARACAS HISTORY MUSEUM

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, Nazca, 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

Aside from always leaving you wanting more, travel possesses a few other transformative qualities. It can change the way you view the world, yourself, and those around you.

Gaining a Global Perspective

Every country’s news media reflects the viewpoint of that specific country. When you meet new people from different cultures, you start to get all the other sides of the story and piece together a new international worldview that can only be gained through foreign exposure.

Learning to Pass Time

Whether it’s due to 20 hour flights to New Zealand or what turned into a 30 hour shuttle bus in Guatemala, you’re bound to have some down time. Some use this time to formulate business plans; others use it to empty their minds and relax, and some even learn to appreciate the moment for what it is.

Breaking Out of Patterns

Even with a fully formed itinerary in your travels, you’re going to take a wrong turn somewhere and find yourself exploring new avenues. The smallest thing, such as different meal times in foreign countries, can upset your usual routines and increase mental flexibility.

Boosting Patience

With cheap flights to India, Latin America, and other global destinations, more and more Western visitors are visiting developing nations. Toilets are different, the busses don’t run on time, and shops can close at odd hours. Patience is like a muscle in that the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.

Inspiring your Palate

No matter what your reason for travelling is, sampling new cuisine will inevitably be a by-product. You may fall in love with saffron, seaweed, or sundried tomatoes and start changing the way you cook at home as a result.

New Appreciation for Home

You can never really appreciate your home country until you go abroad. What you start missing about it may surprise you, whether it’s just a certain brand of hot sauce at your corner shop or the fact that strangers smile at one another in your hometown.

Finding New Ways to Make a Living

In my travels, I’ve met an Irish photographer who travels to India every spring solely to buy trousers to sell at summer flea markets in Berlin. I’ve met travelling massage therapists, real estate mavens, and event planners. If you think that the only way to get by financially is through sitting in a full-time office, travel will change that theory.

Making Your Own Acquaintance

As you find yourself in new situations, you may be called upon to make quick decisions and form swift reactions. These reactions can surprise you, with the end result being that you get to know yourself just a little bit better.

Building Trust

You may be relying on strangers who don’t speak the same language to help you, whether it’s in providing a room for the night or directions to the train station. You have to trust them, and this can make you more sympathetic to others at home in return.

Changing your Pace of Life

Seeing the way the rest of the world lives can inspire you to slow down. Savouring a coffee on the terrace and walking a little more slowly through the park can reveal new details of your own life to enjoy.

There are at least 26 important pyramids, along with enclosures and mounds, in the 540 acres of Tucume in Peru. Constructed of mud brick, they are located on the plain surrounding the La Raya Mountain, south of the La Leche River. Constructed by the Lambayeque in 1000 AD, they were conquered by the Chimu in 1375 and incorporated into the Incan Empire in 1470.

Local shaman healers called upon the powers of the Tucume and La Raya Mountain during their rituals. Thus Tucume is feared by the local people who know it as Purgatorio. They will not enter the site at night. Part of the Lambayeque Valley, which is the largest valley on the North Coast of Peru, the Tucume plains are located on the valley’s southern edge. It is now surrounded by fertile land, due to a forty-three mile irrigation canal.

In Tucume’s north and northeast sector are found the largest and most imposing pyramids, especially Huaca Larga or Long Pyramid, Huaca 1, the Temple of the Sacred Stone and Huaca Balsas.

The sumptuous burial-place of an important Inca general, perhaps Tucume’s Inca governor, was discovered by archaeologists in Huaca Larga. This pyramid is 2300 feet long, the longest known adobe structure. The Chimu dominated the area of Huaca Larga, which is marked by their red, white and black paintings, some of which depict flying birds. The site is thought to have been abandoned due to a destructive fire set by the Spaniards in Huaca Larga’s center at the start of the colonial period.

Huaca 1 is a stepped pyramid 98 feet high with its narrow access ramp making some right-angle turns up its façade. There are two plazas connected to it that are surrounded by high walls, along with several annexes. One of these is known as “The Bell Shaped Building” and is an outstanding sample of Andean design with overhanging walls. At its top the Huaca 1 has rooms that may have been the living quarters of the Lambayeque leaders. The Chimu used Huaca 1 during their occupation and again they decorated it with flying bird paintings.

The Temple of the Sacred Stone is a U-shaped pyramid. Although small and plain, it was a major stop for travelers passing by as they entered the site. The road through the Lambayeque Valley leads first to this temple and then to Huaca Larga. What seems to make this temple special is a large boulder set in the middle of a building. Archaeologists do not know what it represents but found a huge amount of offerings around it that included shells, slaughtered llamas and numerous other items and figurines. Huaca Balsas has lovely mythical friezes, although the pyramid was damaged by looters. “The Mound of the Rafts” frieze portrays a scene in which a bird man and bird lead a raft that follows another raft. “The Frieze of the Rite” portrays a priestly figure under a roofed structure who is holding a llama in one hand and a staff in the other. It is thought by archaeologists that these scenes depict myths of the Lambayeque culture. Although just a shadow of the creators’ original design, the remains of Tucume are one of Peru’s most important archaeological sites.

If you are interested in exploring more of the Archaeological Sites we’ve visited on our travels, be sure to follow the link here for more posts.

This guest post comes to us from a wonderful couple we met traveling in Manizales Colombia. We had the opportunity to share a hiking adventure through the Los Nevados mountains . Even though we have said goodbye in real life, we have kept in touch through emails ever since we met. Through our travels, Miro and I have met the most wonderful people and it’s our honor to share with you here, their story of inspiration. 

~Lainie

Inspiration

The cheapest and most sustainable way to travel is simply by opening a book. When I was growing up, it was through the well-loved stories on the shelves of my father’s used bookshop, that I gleamed my first look at new worlds and my longing for exploration was ignited. As a young adult, I was determined to model my life after the adventure novels that I grew up on. As a result, I found myself motor biking in Uruguay, shark diving in South Africa, hitchhiking in Transylvania and rock climbing in Laos.

However, no matter how far I got from my dad’s bookstore, the values I learned there remained intact and my passion for reuse, giving old, discarded things a second life, propelled much of my travel and, eventually, reveled my purpose.

Unlike books, I saw cellphones as a new commodity for which a culture of reuse and ethical disposal did not yet exist. As a result, billions of cellphones and other electronics were sent to landmines or remained idle, tucked away in drawers collecting dust. I set out to change this.

In 2009 I met my girlfriend, Katherine, and, on the road together, we developed the model for ExchangeMyPhone. We set about creating a business that was centered on the idea that people should be paid to do something good.

Today ExchangeMyPhone buys broken, outdated and working phones from users and then restores those that are salvageable, finds them new homes, and disposes of the others ethically. Even phones without value are recycled free of cost because ExchangeMyPhone believes e-Waste stewardship should be available to everyone. We have set our sights on making cell phone recycling as easy as returning a Netflix DVD.

I have built-up the company’s team with others who share both my love for reuse and my passion for discovering the exotic. Nothing marries the two better than the adventures of our blog; each week we delve into the reuse from all corners of the world whether its beer bottle temples in Thailand, the latest trends in French cardboard interior design, or wallpaper innovations from Buenos Aires. So come along, there are dumpsters full of possibility.

Jeremy Cohen and his girlfriend, Katherine Preston, live in Brooklyn, NY. Jeremy is the founder of ExchangeMyPhone.com and Katherine is the company’s Creative Director. Their website is a place for anyone to sell (or recycle) their old phones and their blog is full of global stories on green innovation. When they aren’t working, Jeremy and Katherine go exploring whenever they can.

The story of El Brujo and Lady of Cao as told by archaeologists is of one magic and intrigue. The historical pyramid and the female mummy have continued to intrigue historians even up to today. They from part of cultural traditions of the Peruvian people and as the years go by, more and more people have an interest to learn the secrets that have not been uncovered for many years now. Located just close to the sea, the El Brujo pyramid stands still and still amazes visitors due to its many legends as told by the inhabitants. According to some legends, the pyramid had gold that slowly sank and disappeared to the depths of the sea. Still others claim that there were golden bells right in the pyramid and most villagers fought to have a share of the bell. When it was finally removed from the pyramid, it disappeared in neighboring valleys.

Whichever the version each legend has, it is clear that the openings to the pyramid resulted from looting done by treasure hunters in early colonial era.

The splendour of El Brujo was built during the Mochica occupation in early 700AC. Following the ancient tradition, these pyramids become a center for religious happenings by the lordships of Chicama valley (of the later Chumu civilization). Although there were other religious and administrative centres in and around the valley  like the Temple of the Sun and the Moon near Trujillo, this particular complex stood out. The other minor centres were constructed to resemble the El Brujo complex with temples that had high flat top pyramids and axis that were oriented to the north. One of the most stunning relics of civilization is without doubt the site presumably built for the Lady of Cao.

Discovered near a ceremonial site in Peru, the female mummy had heavily tattooed arms. Besides the tattooed arms, this mummy was found in possession of other ceremonial belongings that included weapons, remain of the sacrificed teenage girl and pieces of jewellery. Never before had archaeologists witnessed a total array in a tomb near this area.

It is believed that the fine ornaments and jewellery was an indication that this lady was a high ranking one in society. However, something that continues to stun researchers to date is the presence o war clubs around this mummy a very unusual phenomenal among females. There are so many studies carried out that go ahead to explain the high relief representations at this site. It is clear that the pyramid is directly connected to domestic world that include ritual events, human sacrifices and offerings among other things.

Additionally, the presence of the stunning murals of geometrical designs and fishes a long with its location near the sea is indication that it is a temple for traditional gods. Although this is yet to be confirmed by researchers residents still think that there is some truth in this hypothesis. A visit to this place cannot be complete until you have seen the magical El Brujo and Lady of Cao. To many this is place where memories and created and natured and there are ready guides who are more than willing to offer insight into these historical wonders.

We shared the day exploring this wonderful piece of Peru’s history with our wonderful friends, Dixie, Bubba & Liz  from ConsciousBabyBoomers.com.

To learn more about the discovery, National Geographic has a wonderful article  here.

International Pedaled Powered Family Adventure

Episode #28 we speak with Nancy from a remarkable family who views the world as their home.

This is the second in a two part series, where both Miro and I both speak with the Vogel Family, also known as Family on Bikes. This family completed a multi year bicycle trek, starting in Alaska, traveling down the pan american highway, finally to reach their destination in Argentina. But this is not their only adventure together as a family and we learn that inspiration is a family trait for the Vogels.

This is episode #28, Part 2 of a 2 part series. Be sure to listen to Part 1 here.

“My invitation to you is to begin living every moment as though you are miraculous and deserve to live an extraordinary life. Fake it if you must and keep faking it until it’s real to you. The gift you will be giving yourself is a lifelong journey of discovery, one that is infinite and infinitely rewarding. Begin the journey. Today. This moment. Now.” 
~ Robert White

In  episode #28 we speak  with Nancy Vogel of FamilyonBikes.org  about everything from trip planning to  preparations, education on the road and keeping your family  healthy on an extended journey. Nancy also shares some valuable advice for anyone who may have some fear preventing them from following their dreams.

Part 1

Episode # 27 includes an interview between Miro  and all of the boys from the Vogel clan including John Vogel, and twin sons Daryl & Davy who, as a family of four, rode their bikes from Alaska to Argentina over a 3 year time span, and broke a world record in the process.

Traveling and Learning

Nancy Vogel is 21-year  classroom teaching veteran. In our interview, Nancy shares her thoughts on roadschooling. Additionally, Nancy writes extensively on her blog about education. Here’s an excerpt on her article about education:

Education = Learning = school

ed•u•ca•tion [ej-oo-key-shuh n] –noun

the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.

learn•ing [lur-ning] –noun

knowledge acquired by systematic study in any field of scholarly application.

It’s funny how we associate these two words with school.  A brick building broken into classrooms filled with desks and chairs and blackboards.

School = education = learning Synonyms all three.

And yet – are they?  What is education?  What’s true learning?

I’ve talked quite a bit about our sons’ education in this blog – how we’ve allowed Mother Nature to provide most of the lessons; how we’ve trusted our sons to learn about the world around them. About how education is so much more than school.

Read the rest of the article here.

Family on Bikes Latest Project:

20 Miles per Cookie- 9000 Miles of Kid-Powered Adventures

The family Vogal share their inspiration in their inspiring journey in their latest book.

It was a year of adventure, a year of fun. A year of good time and bad, of highs and lows, of good weather and bad. But mostly, it was a year of magic – together as a family.

“It seems that in the darkest of times, the goodness within humanity becomes the most evident. For the Vogel family – cycling for a year around the US and Mexico – those encounters with kindness came to represent their journey almost as much as their own personal growth.” ~Michael Turtle

“This book is a pleasure to read – for although it details a journey most of us won’t ever take, the life lessons can be extrapolated to any family. From cold, rain, muck, and headwinds, to the kindness of strangers and the extraordinary beauty of nature, the Vogel family kept on. Life lessons can be read here, without biking those 9,000 miles – keep your head down, don’t complain, keep going, work together, learn together, don’t push TOO hard, and enjoy the journey.” ~Jessie Voigts

“One prominent theme in this book is the “Road Angels” the family comes across. In a time when we are all adding a second deadbolt to our door, telling our kids to trust no one and monitoring every second of their lives on the web, the Vogel family learned to have a little trust in their fellow man. ~Keryn Means

Did it inspire me to take my own year long bike riding adventure with my family?  Well….No.  I don’t like riding my bike that much!  But it did help me to understand that we continually underestimate ourselves and that whatever we can dream we can accomplish if we only believe in ourselves. ~ Amy Sztupovszky

Nancy is a confident writer that left me giggling throughout the book as she shared the ups and downs of daily life on the road. She shared a few memorable disputes with her husband (it was reassuring to know they are normal, at least in that way), and had me grinning from ear to ear when they came across Road Angels that lightened their load and made the journey more bearable and enjoyable. Americans and Mexicans alike went out of their way to bring sunshine to their days! ~ Alisa Lybbert

But I think most will agree with me about this, the most amazing thing about this story is simply that someone did it. That people leave their jobs and homes and BEDS with two kids and just get out there and live their lives to the fullest. This should not be surprising, but it’s really shocking. I feel like walking to my mailbox is a huge hassle most days. Much less camping out almost every night for a year in a tent with three dudes.Yet they did it, and they loved it.  ~ Edification

This is the story of the Vogel Family’s first major family adventure – one year cycling 9300 miles through the USA and Mexico. Their sons were eight years old when they pulled out of our driveway in Boise, Idaho.

Find more information here.

Supporting Raising Miro

If you are able to support us financially we would be so grateful.  We continue to raise money to keep us safe, and keep us out on the road. I continue to work a little remotely and we have started to earn a little income from our web site, but if you can support us with a donation, no matter the size, we’d be so grateful. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to continue our travels. We live frugally, stay with families & couch surf and  volunteer our time and energies. We  know this is  all part of our experience in the world and are grateful for each and every moment.

We want you to know, your donations go such a long way helping keeping us in the present, safe and knowing we have exactly what we need. Thank you to all who have supported us through your donations in the past and those who will in the future and believing in our travels.

If you are interested in learning more about ways to support Raising Miro, including donating money or sponsoring our travels please click on this link. If you are interested in finding out about advertising opportunities for our podcasts or website, please on the site, please send a note here or use the donation form in the sidebar.

Podcast #28 Sponsor

The Raising Miro Podcast has  new sponsor!

Episode #25 is brought to you by the fabulous folks over at Audible

Sign for a Free 2 week trial membership AND Get a FREE audiobook download of your choice!! Go to  audibletrial.com/RaisingMiro and choose from over 85,000 titles for your iPod or mp3 player

Sign up TODAY! It’s a wonderful deal.

Thank you!

We want to take a moment to thank a few peoplewho have contributed to our travels. Your donations have helped cover our travel expenses and for that, we are so grateful! The people who have contributed to Raising Miro are: Ashley Hansen, Grandpa, Scott Van Pelt, Sashya Amee, Ivan Amador,Heather on Her Travels, Bradford Akerman, Tuan Vutran, Terrance O’Dowd, Eric Hammond, Chip Jacobs, Billy Horn and Sonia Kim. Thank you so much! Your support is heart-felt and much appreciated!

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(Like how did Miro get stuck in his chair…) If you have comments or have a question you’d like to have answered in an upcoming podcast, please use send us an email using this contact form. We promise, we answer all of the questions we relieve and we love hearing from you.

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Special Thanks

To those of you who have supported us so far on this journey, the donations we’ve received and the wonderful words of encouragement. Thank you all for your comments and feedback, and please keep them coming. Thank you Hanna for giving us a wonderful professional boost with the intro & outro, engineered by Hanna Jakobson, music “Multilayered Timbres” by Dr. Pimp courtesy of CC (creative commons) license.