longheaded

Longheaded is an adjective used to describe a person or skull with a greater than average length from the forehead to the back of the head. In anthropology and anatomy, such a skull shape is commonly called dolichocephalic, from Greek dolichos “long” and kephale “head.” The term aligns with the cephalic index, which compares head length to width. A lower cephalic index indicates a relatively longer head; common classifications include dolichocephalic (long-headed), mesocephalic (medium), and brachycephalic (short-headed). Thresholds vary, but dolichocephaly is often described as a cephalic index below roughly 75.

Longheaded can describe natural variation in human skulls, but it may also refer to skulls altered by artificial cranial modification, historically practiced in some cultures by shaping infants’ heads with bands or boards. Such forms of deformation can produce dolichocephalic shapes, though the cause—genetic, environmental, or cultural—must be considered when interpreting measurements.

In modern scientific usage, the term longheaded is less common than dolichocephalic, and craniometric descriptions emphasize precise measurements and ethical considerations. The term has also appeared in older literature and, in some contexts, has been used in biased racial typologies, which are rejected by contemporary anthropology and genetics.