'Alien Ant-Man': Scientists Baffled by Mysterious Deformed Skull

Scientists are puzzled by a mysterious deformed skull discovered in Argentina, with some claiming it could be the so-called "Ant Man". The owner of the strange elongated skull looks like the long-lost remains of an alien visitor to Earth.

Wherever it came from, scientists have been left baffled by this mysterious deformed skull discovered in Argentina, writes the Daily Mail. Archaeologists say the skull, found by workers in San Fernando, Catamarca province, has a structure that is markedly different from that of an ordinary person. The cranium is extremely elongated, as if it once housed a brain that was larger and more powerful than that of any known human.

Some local media outlets have described the skull as the remains of a newly discovered group of ancient humans. Others have dubbed them "antmen" after the army of dog-sized ants that figured in Greek mythology. According to legend, the antmen, also known as myrmekes, lived in huge anthills with complex, winding passages filled with plundered loot. But, as the Daily Mail points out, the shape of the skull also bears a striking resemblance to the aliens that appeared in the classic 1990s sci-fi film Mars Attacks!

The "unexpected discovery" was made by construction workers during excavations for a drinking water supply, local daily El Ancasti reported. The workers found two burial urns containing human remains, one of which contained an unusually shaped skull.

One of the urns reportedly contained a complete skeleton, while the other contained partial remains, which will also be analyzed by experts from the National University of Catamarca.

"The greatest attention was attracted by the unusual shape of one of the skulls, the structure of which differs markedly from that of a normal human," the article says. "The find aroused great interest and was brought to the attention of the provincial anthropological authorities, who are expected to arrive at the site. The site has been fenced off and is under guard to preserve the remains and facilitate the work of specialists."

As reported by Heritage Daily, when the news broke in local media, some outlets called the skull's owner "Ant Man," referring to a Greek legend, but the truth may be even darker and more unpleasant.

It is possible that the owner's skull was brutally deformed by a barbaric method called "artificial cranial deformation," the Daily Mail notes. Artificial cranial deformation involved applying pressure to the skulls of infants using splints or bandages while the bones were still flexible, causing the skull to become elongated with a flat or curved line on the back marking the area where the pressure was applied. This ancient cultural practice was common among groups such as the Ciénaga and Aguada people, who lived between the 3rd and 12th centuries AD.

Rick Schulting, professor of prehistoric archaeology at Oxford University, points out that skull modification was a common practice in many parts of the world, including western South America. 'It was done for a variety of reasons, including aesthetics and to distinguish social groups - such as ethnicity or higher social status,' he told MailOnline. 'It was done by tying ribbons around the baby's head, sometimes using boards to create the desired shape.'

Dr Heidi Dawson-Hobbies, senior lecturer in biological anthropology at the University of Winchester, said: "It looks like the skull could belong to a teenager. "When I looked at the photograph, I initially thought it was hydrocephalus (fluid build-up in the brain), but it's hard to tell for sure from the photograph," she told MailOnline. "Alternatively, depending on the date the remains were found, various South American cultures practised head binding or the use of cradle boards, which would have altered the shape of the skull."

Other artificial skull shapes chosen by various cultures around the world included rounded and conical, but ancient people around the world practiced even more radical modifications to their skulls, including "trepanation," which involved drilling a piece of bone and removing it from the skull, usually to relieve pressure or perform ritual practices.

It is not yet clear what condition the second skull, recently found in another Argentine burial urn, is in, MailOnline reports.

In a statement, experts from the National University of Catamarca said: "The interpretation of these findings opens up new possibilities for deepening our connection with our ancestors. By respecting and appreciating these cultural traditions and their meaning, we honour the memory of our ancestors and connect with them through our common human experience."