Archaeologists discover ancient 'conehead' in French necropolis; wealth artistocratic woman's skeleton

A SKULL of an aristocratic woman with a deformed, pointed 'conehead' has been found in an ancient burial plot in France.

conehead skull

A SKULL of an aristocratic woman with a deformed, pointed 'conehead' has been found in an ancient burial plot in France.

The skeleton, whose skull was bound into a deformed cone-shape reserved for aristocracy, was unearthed in a necropolis discovered in the Obernai region of Alsace, France. The burial site contains 38 tombs from the Stone Ages to the Dark Ages, discovered in 2011, reports INRAP, the France's archeological research institute.

Archaeologist Philippe Lefranc said the ‘conehead’ skull was discovered in a section of the necropolis that includes 18 tombs from either the late Roman period or early dark ages, roughly 1650 years ago, LiveScience reports.

In that period, an alien-like, domed skull was a privilege only afforded to deceased aristocracy.

"The deformation of the skull with the help of bandages (narrow strips of cloth) and small boards is a practice coming from central Asia," said Mr Lefranc. The practice was made popular by the Huns, from central Asia, and then spread throughout Germany, he said.

"In France, Germany and eastern Europe, these deformed skulls appear in tombs rich in objects," he said. Researchers also found signs of wealth including gold pins, pearls, a comb made of antler and a bronze mirror in the woman’s grave.

The remains are thought to be the graves of Asian mercenaries and their families, hired by the Roman Army during the decline of the Roman Empire.