Cracked Ancient Greek skull ‘proves brain surgery existed 2,200 years ago’ to fix headaches, experts claim
A BROKEN skull suggests that brain surgery existed as far back as 2,200 years ago.
The cracked cranium – which appears to have a hole drilled into it – was found at the site of an Ancient Greek city in Turkey.
Archaeologists uncovered the skull inside a burial chamber during new excavations at the ancient city of Euromus.
One of the skulls belonging to an adult male had marks that suggested brain surgery had been performed.
If true, this would be one of the earliest known examples of neurosurgery ever discovered.
"We believe this surgery was performed due to a headache or a problem that had to do with the skull," said Abuzer Kizil, an assistant professor working on the project.
Speaking to The Sun, Kizil said that the surgery was likely performed using "a small knife and a thin, long and sharp bronze tool".
He said that the identity of the surgeon was unknown, but added: "We hope we will find some evidence about it, next time."
Kizil also noted that Euromos residents were generally healthy – with the exception of some widespread illnesses in the region.
Two fetuses inside the tombs alongside two young women were also discovered inside the tombs.
This suggests that they lost their lives during delivery, archaeologists say.
Brain surgery – a brief history
Here's what you need to know...
- Brain surgery is very advanced today, but primitive versions of the field may have existed thousands of years ago
- There is some evidence that Incas bored holes into skulls during the late Stone age
- Chinese physician Hua Tuo is said to have performed neurosurgical procedures during the 2nd century
- And in the Middle Ages (from 936 to 1013AD), Arab Muslim physician Al-Zahrawi was known to have performed skull surgery
- Doctors would typically use crude tools to create holes in the skull, often designed to relieve pain or pressure in the head
- But "safe" modern neurosurgery didn't arise until the late 19th and early 20th century, when superficial tumours were able to be removed
- Brain surgery has significantly improved in recent times with very specialised tools like chisels, forceps, and scalpels
- Modern scanning techniques like X-Rays, MRI and CT scans have also improved surgical safety
Euromus was an Ancient Greek city in the Anatolia region of Turkey.
Archaeologists excavating the site have discovered artefacts that date back to at least the 6th century BC.
Some of Euromus' ruins still remain, the most notable of which is the famous Temple of Zeus Leipsinos, with 16 columns that still stand today.
Although we know much about Ancient Greece, major finds are still being uncovered
Earlier this year, archaeologists claimed to have found the origin of the Ancient Greek Empire: a tiny island off the coast of Keros.
The pyramid island is only 150 metres in diameter and may also have inspired the concept in the ancient Greek religion that mountain tops are where gods lived.
The discovery of the vast monumental complex on the tiny island is now totally changing what archaeologists thought they knew about this time period.
Research is being carried out there by a multinational team, supported by the Greek government and the British School in Athens as well as many other international institutions.
They have found evidence of metal shops, indoor plumbing and marble buildings on the island, all indicating that this is where the sophisticated society could have started.
A brief history of Ancient Greece
Here's what you need to know...
- Ancient Greek civilisation is generally regarded as emerging into the world in the 8th century BC
- The Ancient Greeks ruled over a vast part of the world for centuries and this only ended when Greece fell to the Romans in 146 BC
- The Ancient Greek Empire is well known for being sophisticated and for its connection to philosophers, artists, poets and other geniuses that still impact the world today
- It is also regarded as the time in which the concept of a city-state was officially established
- The Ancient Greeks invented the Olympics and their gods and impressive architecture are widely discussed and studied throughout the world
In other archaeology news, a mystery sealed tunnel has been found inside ‘tower tomb’ revealing lost treasures and an ‘ancient looting operation’.
And we've rounded up some of the most bizarre maps of Earth from history that reveal ancient geography blunders like missing continents and phantom islands.
Would you like to have lived in Ancient Greece? Let us know in the comments!
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