Overview
- The skull, recovered at the Balcón de Montezuma site, is the first cube-like cranial form documented in the Huasteca region of Tamaulipas.
- INAH identifies the remains as a male who died at roughly 40 years old during the Classic period, approximately 400 to 900 AD.
- Researchers conclude the boxy shape resulted from intentional cranial modification in infancy using flat boards, bandages, or a compression plane.
- Oxygen isotope signatures from tooth enamel and bone match local water sources, ruling out migration from areas like El Zapotal or southeastern Maya zones.
- The cultural meaning remains unresolved, with scholars considering either a local tradition or links to broader coastal networks pending further comparative study.