Archaeological excavations conducted in central Italy have brought to light a surprising physical characteristic of the Picene people, who lived approximately 3,000 years ago. Upon examining the crania of dozens of individuals buried in a fetal position—lying on their sides with knees drawn toward the chest—researchers identified distinct flattening that occurred during infancy. [1]
This condition, known in modern medicine as 'positional plagiocephaly' and currently associated with infants being placed on their backs, was found to be common in Iron Age Italy. Archaeologists suggest that this physical alteration was likely a side effect of cultural childcare habits, such as keeping infants in the same position for extended periods or having them sleep in rigid cradles, rather than an intentional practice of cranial deformation.
Infant Care and Sleep in Antiquity
The research offers significant insights into how infants were raised in ancient societies. Modern guidelines and sleep position recommendations developed for infant safety are essentially seeking solutions to an issue as old as human history itself. [3] The findings from the Picene burials demonstrate that parents of that era encountered similar developmental processes.
While such cranial modifications often represent specific social status or aesthetic ideals in historical contexts, the Picene examples are evaluated as being part of daily life. [2] Experts emphasize that these findings bring a fresh perspective to the literature on child health and development in ancient Italy. The discovery proves once again that human biology has responded to environmental factors and cultural habits in the same manner for thousands of years.
Sources and further reading
Image & News Source: Phys.org - Archaeology & Fossils / phys.org