Cranial base morphology in association with intentional cranial vault deformation

Comparison of vault and basal dimensions in 86 Amerind crania revealed that artificial deformation is associated with elevation of frontal orbital processes and temporal petrous crests, restriction of normal downward rotation of foramen magnum, and flattening of mid‐saggital cranial base. Circumferentially deformed crania were modified to a greater degree than antero‐posteriorly deformed skulls. While degree of basal deformation was dependent upon type of vault deformation, this study could not demonstrate the existence of a relationship between type of vault deformation and direction of cranial base modification.