Deep in the heart of ancient Syria, particularly around times as old as 9,500 years ago, a fascinating and eerie custom prevailed. In the Neolithic settlement of Tell Aswad, archaeologists have unearthed evidence of human skulls that underwent intricate transformation post-mortem. Unlike the typical funerary rites that involve burying the dead, the inhabitants of this region adopted a unique method of honoring or perhaps invoking the spirits of the deceased. They carefully embellished the skulls