Found this story in a scrapbook of Astoria Oregon news clippings. One of the articles says the Chief was of the aristocratic class therefore his head was shaped as a child to be elongated, flat, and pointed.
Summary: In Astoria, Oregon, US, Chinook Indian Chief Concomly grave was excavated his head cut off, and sent to a British museum. It was of interest to scientists due to the reddish tint Chinook hair and his flattened, elongated, and pointed skull. During WWII Hitler bombed the museum it was in, breaking the Chief's jaw.
An Astoria Historical Museum got it back, refused to give it back to the Chinook to bury it as it belonged to them now.
The Chinook challenged the US treaties that confiscated their land, received money and materials, but not the skull. The later articles say the Chinook suddenly changed their minds, made the museum director an honorary member of their tribe, and agreed to have the skull on display in his museum. Years later, the Chinook given the skull back and buried it in an undisclosed location.
The skull
Chief's Pointed Shape Skull Returned
Skull of Famous Chinook Indian Chief May Soon Be Returned to Clatsop Home
Chief Concomly's Head
Chinook Tribesmen Want Possession of Comcomly's Skull
Indian Grave Opened Near Columbia
Descendants Agree to Leave Skull Here
Chinooks Accept Flavel House as Repository for Chief's Skull
Whose Skull
Two Groups Claim Ownership of Comcomly's Skull
Comcomly Skull to be Buried
Indian Grave Opened Near Columbia
Artifacts
Summary: In Astoria, Oregon, US, Chinook Indian Chief Concomly grave was excavated his head cut off, and sent to a British museum. It was of interest to scientists due to the reddish tint Chinook hair and his flattened, elongated, and pointed skull. During WWII Hitler bombed the museum it was in, breaking the Chief's jaw.
An Astoria Historical Museum got it back, refused to give it back to the Chinook to bury it as it belonged to them now.
The Chinook challenged the US treaties that confiscated their land, received money and materials, but not the skull. The later articles say the Chinook suddenly changed their minds, made the museum director an honorary member of their tribe, and agreed to have the skull on display in his museum. Years later, the Chinook given the skull back and buried it in an undisclosed location.
The skull
Chief's Pointed Shape Skull Returned
Skull of Famous Chinook Indian Chief May Soon Be Returned to Clatsop Home
Chief Concomly's Head
Chinook Tribesmen Want Possession of Comcomly's Skull
Indian Grave Opened Near Columbia
Descendants Agree to Leave Skull Here
Chinooks Accept Flavel House as Repository for Chief's Skull
Whose Skull
Two Groups Claim Ownership of Comcomly's Skull
Comcomly Skull to be Buried
Indian Grave Opened Near Columbia
Artifacts
