The Bioarchaeology of Artificial Cranial Modifications : Springer : 9781461487593 : 1461487595 : 16 Oct 2013 : The artificial shaping of the skull vault of infants expresses fundamental aspects of crafted beauty, of identity, status and gender in a way no other body practice does. Combining different sources of information, this volume contributes new interpretations on Mesoamerican head shaping traditions. Here, the head with its outer insignia was commonly used as a metaphor for designating the ?self? and personhood and, as part of the body, served as a model for the indigenous universe. Analogously, the outer ?looks? of the head and its anatomical constituents epitomized deeply embedded worldviews and longstanding traditions. It is in this sense that this book explores both the quotidian roles and long-standing ideological connotations of cultural head modifications in Mesoamerica and beyond, setting new standards in the discussion of the scope, caveats, and future directions involv