Chinook Elongated Skulls Documented by Lewis and Clark

November 26, 2025General

Source: Signs of Lost Civilization in Pacific Northwest United States by DeDunking

Site mentioned

📍 Columbia River Region

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