The human skull is a biologically dynamic structure that undergoes continuous morphological modification throughout the lifespan. These changes reflect intrinsic developmental processes, as well as extrinsic influences, including culturally mediated practices such as artificial cranial deformation. Comparative craniometric research provides an effective framework for assessing how age-related skeletal remodeling interacts with deformation-induced constraints, thereby contributing to broader understandings of craniofacial plasticity, skeletal adaptation, and population variability. This study aimed to conduct a comparative craniometric analysis of age-related morphological changes in artificially deformed and non-deformed skulls, focusing on cranial indices, skull shape distributions, and proportional relationships across successive life stages. A total of 254 adult and subadult skulls from the osteological collection of Azerbaijan Medical University were examined, including 200 non-deformed and 54 artificially deformed specimens. Age classification followed an established anthropological age-periodization system. Standard craniometric measurements were obtained, including cranial length, breadth, height, and facial dimensions, from which key cranial and facial indices were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (v.26.0), with Pearson’s Chi-square test applied to assess associations between age, deformation status, and cranial morphology. In non-deformed skulls, brachycranic forms predominated in younger individuals, with a gradual shift toward mesocranic and dolichocranic configurations in later age groups. Elderly individuals exhibited a higher prevalence of euryprosopic facial morphology. In contrast, artificially deformed skulls demonstrated a consistently high frequency of metriocrania across all age categories, indicating relative stabilization of cranial proportions. Younger deformed skulls were characterized by broad and moderately high cranial vaults with predominantly mesoprosopic facial forms. Adult age groups displayed increased variability in cranial indices, particularly in length–breadth relationships. Statistically significant differences were observed between deformed and non-deformed skulls in the trajectory of age-related cranial index changes (p ≤ 0.05). Age-related cranial remodeling follows distinct morphological trajectories in artificially deformed and non-deformed skulls. Artificial cranial deformation appears to constrain natural age-dependent variability, resulting in more stable proportional patterns throughout the lifespan. These findings contribute to anthropological, anatomical, and clinical perspectives on craniofacial growth, cultural body-modification practices, and skeletal adaptation.
