1,400-year-old skull with mysterious flat top found in ancient village, startling archaeologists

Archaeologists recently uncovered a surprising 1,400-year-old skull in anancient villagein Mexico — unusual for both its flat top and cube-like shape.

Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) announced the find.Officials said the skull was found in the Balcón de Montezuma Archaeological Zone, in the Northern Huasteca region of Tamaulipas.

The skull belonged to a man who lived between 400 and 900 A.D.He was over 40 years old when he died, officials said. 

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The man had a peculiar tabular erect-type skull — with the front and back of the head purposely flattened.

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The skull also has an unusually flat top, giving it a cube-like shape, similar to the rare tabular superior form.

Archaeologists in Mexico announced the discovery of a 1,400-year-old skull showing rare forms of intentional cranial deformation.(Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia)

“As a result, not only was intentionalcranial deformationidentified for the first time at this type of site, but also a variant of cranial modeling not previously reported in this region of Mesoamerica,” the INAH press release said. 

“Not all individuals at the site (for whom we have complete skeletons) show this kind of cultural modification,” the researchers said. 

The skull was uncovered at the Balcón de Montezuma Archaeological Zone in the Northern Huasteca region of Tamaulipas.(Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia)

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Though cranial deformations were not unheard ofin Mesoamerica,researchers stressed that this type is less common than other types in the region — and unusually combines both tabular erect and tabular superior styles.

Intentional cranial deformation was practiced in parts of Mesoamerica but rarely in this specific combination.(Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia)

“This new discovery provides highly relevant data on the nature of intercultural relationships in the Huasteca region — especially with the North and the Sierra Madre Oriental of Mexico,” the researchers added. 

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“It not only shows the high degree of ethnic diversity, but also provides insights into the physical characteristics of its inhabitants.”

The discovery is only one of many archaeological finds that were uncovered in 2025.

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Archaeologists (not pictured) said the grave differed from others found at the ancient village.(iStock)

In El Salvador, excavators found“creepy” puppetsat the top of a pyramid that dated back over 2,400 years.

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This summer, a Texas couple unearthed theancient tombof a legendary king in Caracol, Belize, a major Mayan city established in the 300s A.D.