A study into the mysterious changing skull shape of medieval man casts serious doubt on current theories. The peculiar shift from long narrow heads to those of a rounder shape, and back again, which took place between the 11th and 13th centuries, has been noted at sites throughout western Europe. But a study of skulls found at the deserted village of Wharram Percy, near Malton, North Yorkshire, suggests that the anatomical blip was not down to an influx of Norman immigrants, or climate change, English Heritage has said. It examined nearly 700 skeletons recovered from the village. Unlike other research, data from the Wharram site traces the change to a single, indigenous community which has been radiocarbon-dated.

Simon Mays, a skeletal biologist, said: “Our work has yielded few clues on why skulls changed, but we have cast serious doubt on some of the current theories. Despite the best efforts of science, we’re still in the dark to explain why it happened.” The findings are presented in the latest volume of the Wharram Percy project, which aims to publish the results of 40 years of archaeological excavations at the Yorkshire Wolds village between 1950 and 1990.

View: Full Article | Source: Times On-line

I do not know if radiation travels at the same speeds as light, but this would be around the time of the Crab Nebula supernova.

Maybe climate change did have something to do with it , we still don't know exactly what triggers evolution

I wonder what humans in this day and age are eventually turning into? Does not science detect anything happening to us?

It could have simpley been nutritional.

Diet was very poor back then, along with many diseases - the most hard hit being the poor and the armies.

i read the story on a different website and it said only male skulls showed the change.

xD That's 'cause women aren't human!



Hmm... Weird dilemma then. I can't wait until they figure it out~

Likewise.. But sometimes poor nutritional may have caused it..

Bella,

For future reference:

"Radiation" and "light" are two different names for the exact same thing.

Harte

Radiation is combination of energy radiated in forms of waves, particles and rays. Light is a form of radiation, radiation isn't light.

That is so crazy. There are so many theories out there. I'd love for them to hurry up and find out what the heck caused that. The suspense is killing me!

Could it be that men started thinking with their skulls during that time period


Just joking of course!!

In all seriousness it does seem strange if it was just mens skulls, perhaps it was testosterone related.

All I can say is wow, that is very interesting!