Intracranial volume variation in Chinchorro mummies: a comparative study with pre-hispanic farmers and contemporary Chilean populations

Modern Chilean populations exhibit significantly larger intracranial volumes (ICV) and stature compared to pre-Hispanic groups, with the most substantial increases occurring since the 20th century. This study reveals a 12.05% increase in average ICV from Chinchorro individuals (1,321.26 cc) to contemporary Chileans (1,481.22 cc), driven by improved nutrition and healthcare rather than agricultural transitions. Sexual dimorphism in ICV was also lowest among pre-Hispanic agriculturalists. Researchers used CT scans and 3D reconstructions to analyze three diachronic populations from northern Chile, providing insights into long-term biological variation linked to subsistence strategies and living conditions.

Rojas-Costa, G. M., Silva-Pinto, V., Valenzuela, Y., de la Iglesia-Vayá, M., Molina-Mateo, J., Salazar-García, D. C., Valdes-Sosa, P. A., & Gálvez, M. (2025). Intracranial volume variation in Chinchorro mummies: a comparative study with pre-hispanic farmers and contemporary Chilean populations. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-25186-y