Bidspirit auction | Rare Taino Elongated Skull

Rare Taino Elongated Skull - Pre-Columbian, Hispaniola, Caribbean Islands 15th century-style old Taino 'Brain Coral' carved and highly stylized elongated skull in the form known as 'Anunnaki', deities of ancient Mesopotamia. Also among other civilizations such as the Alchon kings of central Asia and ultimately the Taino of the Caribbean Islands. Taino would shape and deformed skulls to mimic this stylized form and this unusual practice started at birth. A system of tablets would be used with cotton and during development the skull and brain could be deformed to create the desired effect. From an Old Puerto Rico Private Collection. Size 8 5/8” L, 5 7/8” H