The Archaeologists of Russia have discovered the skull of a 5,000-year-old man in Crimea. After examination, it was found that this man might have undergone a failed brain surgery and it was suspected that this man died after this surgery. This skull seems to be related to the Bronze age era. This discovery can be useful to understand the medical techniques being used in the Bronze age.
Researchers released 3D images from Crimea
Researchers working on this project released 3D images from Crimea. These 3D images show clear proof of their claim that this skull underwent a failed trepanation. Archaeologists have provided effective proof about the ancient surgical procedure which is called trepanation. Trepanation was a practice of drilling small holes in the skulls.
The age of this man was estimated at about 20 years old at the time of surgery. However, researchers asserted that this man was unlucky to survive long after this surgery. According to Dr. Maria Dobrovolskaya (Head of the Laboratory of Contextual Anthropology), this is evident from the absence of obvious traces of healing since traces of trepanation are quite visible on the surface of the skull. This surgery may have been used to ease severe headaches, cure hematoma, repair skull injuries, or conducted to overcome epilepsy.
The report about this skull informed that this skull was found on a skeleton found in a deep grave in the mound. By judging the position of bones it was found that the body of the patient was laid on its back and slightly turned on its left side. The legs of this man were bent at the knees and turned to the left. It seemed that two flint arrowheads were also buried with the ancient man.
A researcher in stone age archeology added that the three types of marks found on the body were left by the prehistoric surgeons using different kinds of stone blades. The head researcher also asserted the survival rate after trepanation was used to high but this patient found in Crimea was unlucky as he failed to survive.