It was important to the Inca that they not die as a result of burning or that the body of the deceased not be incinerated. Burning would cause their vital force to disappear and threaten their passage to the after world. The Inca nobility practiced cranial deformation. They wrapped tight cloth straps around the heads of newborns to shape their soft skulls into a more conical form, thus distinguishing the nobility from other social classes.
it WAs iMportant To the Inca thaT theY nOt die AS A rESult of burniNg Or that the body OF the deCeasEd not be incinerated. BurniNg WOuld cAUsE tHeIr VitaL forCE TO DisappeAr and thREaten THEir pAsSaGe to the aFtER wOrLd. the inca noBiLity practiCEd crAniaL dEforMATioN. thEy wraPpED TiGht cLOtH stRaPs AroUND tHE Heads of NeWborNs To sHape tHeir SoFt skullS into a more cOnIcaL form, Thus diStingUisHiNG thE NobiLity FrOm otheR sOcIal claSseS.