1. Trepanation in the
Archaeological Record
Karrah Christenson
7 September 2012
Session 8

2. Skeletal Pathologies
• The most common pathology to affect
skeletal remains is degenerative change
• The second most common pathology is
trauma
• 3 types of trauma
– Fracturing & dislocating bone
– Disrupting blood or nerve supply to the bone
– Artificial deformation

3. Artificial Deformations
• Artificial deformation
is a result of cultural
practices
• Most artificial
deformations are
manifest in the cranium
– These include :
• Wrapping the crania of
infants
• Applying pressure to the
cranium to deform the
cranial vault
• And trepanation

4. Trepanation
Trepanation is a practice in which an
artificial hole is made in the cranial vault
of a living person (Folkens & White 2005)
Ortner and Putschar (1981) say
trepanation is perhaps the most
remarkable pathology seen by the
pathologist.

5. History of Trepanation
• Written accounts reveal that
ancient Greeks practiced
trepanation
• Archaeological records show
that the practice goes deeper
into the past appearing in
Europe, the Pacific, North and
South America, Africa, and
Asia
• Oldest surgical procedure for
which archaeological evidence
has been found

6. Common Methodologies
-scraping
a patch of
bone away
-cutting a patch of bone
out by making grooves
through the vault
-drilling small holes
around the plug of bone
to be removed

9. Why Practice Trepanation?
• Thought to be done in order to relieve
intracranial pressure being caused by
injuries/ compressive fractures of the skull
vault
• Relieve common headaches
• Cure mental illnesses
• Let out evil spirits
• As a sign of social status- supernatural
powers

10. Success Rate?
• Survival rate of those
practicing trepanation was
rather high
• This is evident in the
number of healed
trepanations found in the
archaeological record
• Sometimes bone
completely regenerates
Trepanation from 5100 BC
demonstrating post-operative
healing

11. Trepanations in Menorca?
• Excavations at La Cova des Cárritx revealed a
necropolis with collective inhumations
• Three examples of trepanation were found at the
site, including 1 juvenile and 2 adult individuals
• Because the individuals show no other trauma/
pathologies for a necessary trepanation, its been
suggested that the operations were done as part of a
magic ritual- perhaps these were high status individuals
with supernatural powers
• The remains from this Menorcan cave can be seen in the
Ciutadella Municipal Museum

14. Our Current Findings at Binimel là
• During this session’s excavations at the
prehistoric Talaiotic cave, a portion of frontal
bone was found with evidence of trepanation
• The bone appears to show partial
regeneration- meaning the individual survived
for some time after the trepanation was
completed

16. What does our find mean?
• First case of trepanation
found at this site
• Reveals that the practice
was occurring in
prehistoric Talaiotic
culture around the island
• The wound was partially
healed – would have
been of significant size in
a prominent location

17. Modern
Trepanation

18. Sources
• The Human Bone Manual. Tim D. White
and Pieter A. Folkens 2005
• Arqueologia Menorca. Los tres Cráneos
de la Cova des Càrrtix, tres ejemplos de
trepanacion prehistorica
• Rituales de Vida y Muerte en la Prehistoria
de Menorca: La Cova de Càrrtix. Vincente
Lull