Macrocephaly Traced in Burnt City

12 April 2005

The latest excavations in the archaeological site of Burnt City, in Sistan-Baluchistan has led to the discovery of a five-thousand-year old female skeleton which shows traces of macrocephaly. This is the first example of such illness found in the ancient site.

According to head of the anthropology team in the Burnt City, Farzad Forouzanfar, the discovered skull has a very thick shell, which shows that the woman has died of macrocephaly. However, since it is badly damaged, no more information has been obtained from it. Studies on the skull show that the woman has died young due to the disease.

“The increase in the thickness of the skull has caused the excessive largeness of the whole skull, and this has increased the pressure on the roof of the skull and its fracture, driving the ill finally to death,” explained Forouzanfar.

Previously, symptoms of hydrocephaly were noticed in skeletons of children and young adults discovered in the Burnt City. Further work in the area will probably help archaeologists find the reason why people in this area were infected with hydrocephaly and macrocephaly.

Other illnesses found extensively in the historical area were osteoporosis (bones becoming porous), and joint and spinal problems.