Chinook Elongated Skulls Documented by Lewis and Clark. Lewis and Clark documented cranial modification practices among Pacific Northwest tribes west of the Cascades Elongated skulls were a sign of free person status - slaves had round heads Only free people were allowed to flatten their skulls
Lewis and Clark documented Pacific Northwest tribes practicing cranial modification - head flattening among Chinookan peoples, particularly the Clatsop Indians. Lewis wrote on March 19, 1806 that "the most remarkable trait" in Clatsop Indian physiognomy was the result of head flattening. William Clark made illustrations depicting this practice. The practice was noted among tribes west of the Cascades and was a mark of status among the Chinookan people. Among Chinookan peoples, only slaves and outsiders did not have flattened heads—free people had elongated, flattened skulls. 🏔️
Key Facts
- Lewis and Clark documented cranial modification practices among Pacific Northwest tribes west of the Cascades
- Elongated skulls were a sign of free person status - slaves had round heads
- Only free people were allowed to flatten their skulls
- The practice was believed to influence intellect and connect to ancestors spiritually
- Chief Conley had a pronounced deformed skull that impressed Lewis and Clark
- The practice was ubiquitous among free people in coastal tribes
Source: Signs of Lost Civilization in Pacific Northwest United States by DeDunking