A preserved human head from ancient Peru has revealed the first known case of cleft lip and palate identified in a trophy head from the Andes. The discovery adds a rare example of this congenital condition to the archaeological record in South America and provides new insights into how individuals with physical differences may have been perceived in ancient societies.
Bioarchaeologist Beth Scaffidi analyzed images of the head, which has been on display at the Musée de Grenoble in France since 2004. The individual showed clear signs of a cleft lip and palate, a defect that occurs when the upper jaw and nasal cavity fail to fully connect during fetal development. This marks only the seventh documented case of the condition in human remains from the region.
The head, featuring an L-shaped mouth, measures 44 by 16 by 21 centimeters (17.3 by 6.3 by 8.3 inches) and has a golden, waxy patina. Scaffidi noted that the skin appeared glassy and rigid, likely treated with a preservative.
It is unclear whether this treatment occurred in ancient times or was applied later by collectors or museums. She pointed out that while the Paracas region has natural tar pits that could have been used, no clear evidence supports tar use in mortuary practices.
The individual wore large copper earrings, a detail that may suggest elevated social or ritual status. Ceramic vessels from the same cultural area have depicted men with suspected cleft lips dressed in elite clothing or engaged in spiritual or healing roles.
Colonial-era records also mention that those born with facial differences were sometimes appointed to lower-ranking priestly duties. In Moche culture, such individuals were even believed to be protected from supernatural harm.
Scaffidi first encountered the trophy head in a 2021 catalog from the Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain in Saint-Étienne. The catalog listed its origin as "Ocucace," likely referring to Hacienda Ocucaje in Peru's Ica region. The head had been imported to France by Pierre Langlois.
Although the preserved tissues limit the ability to determine the individual's sex or age, future isotopic testing could provide clues about diet and mobility patterns during different stages of life.
Scaffidi also addressed the challenges of repatriating remains to descendant communities. She emphasized the need for proper inventories and documentation, which are often incomplete or missing.
Many skeletal collections remain unstudied, and funding tends to favor new excavations over legacy collections. She added that tracing provenience without records can make identifying appropriate descendant groups difficult.
The case underscores how human remains can shift in meaning over time, seen alternately as ancestral relics or objects of curiosity, depending on cultural context.