Naturalistic Modeling of Cerebral Lobes in Ancestral Societies of Tawantinsuyu Focused on Forensic Anthropology: A Systematic Review

This review evaluates the naturalistic skull modeling practices in each of the ancestral societies, within the framework of the growing interest in understanding the social and political dynamics of the Inka period in Tawantinsuyu.  

Introduction: Herein lies a systematic review of the practice of naturalistic modeling of cerebral lobes (NMCL) in ancestral societies of Tawantinsuyu focused on forensic anthropology ruin once regarded as one of the most powerful Inca regions whose influence extended into present-day Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil from 1470 AC to 1532 AC. We describe the history, purpose, and implications of NMCL from a neuroanatomical and cultural perspective.

Methods: The studies were carefully chosen using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) quality scale was used to examine full-text publications from six databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Embase, and Web of Science from 1947 to 2024.

Results: We identified 83 articles, of which 63 were included in this systematic review. The evaluation comprised observation studies totaling 9161 cases. Two main cranial styles—tabular and annular—were achieved by applying various mechanical apparatus, resulting in several cranial shapes. Neuroanatomically, each deformation technique and the duration for which mechanical stress was applied influenced the solidification of cranial bones and association with cranial lobes such as the frontal, occipital, parietal, and temporal differently. Conclusion: In Tawantinsuyu, the custom of NMCL was used to demonstrate group identity, with modeling of the cranial shape corresponding to a particular headdress. NMCL was used to distinguish an individual’s social identity, separating different society groups into ancestral societies. The custom has also been used to mark territory and emphasize native differences among groups, with potential cognitive implications that were largely unrecorded.