What do you think of when you hear the words “prehistoric medicine”? If you’re like me, you’re probably thinking of witch-doctors treating illnesses among their tribe members by administering concoctions of medicinal herbs and simples, as well as by spell casting. While those were, in fact, common practices in prehistoric times, did you know that having a hole drilled into your skull was also considered a completely valid medical procedure? It doesn’t sound too fun, but that’s trepanation for you! It would continue to be practiced in some places until the end of the Middle Ages, when it was all but abandoned.
Although archaeologists have unearthed countless skulls from as early as the Neolithic period showing clear evidence of trepanation, it’s anyone’s guess as to why exactly it was performed so extensively. Modern scientists have proposed a range of theories, with the most common speculations being that it was a method of alleviating pain, treating mental illness, and casting out malevolent spirits. There is also the possibility that it may have been used as a rite of initiation in some tribes. Nothing is certain, and we have so little to go on, especially when evaluating the Stone Age, a time thousands of years into the past, when writing as we know it today did not yet exist. However, that is precisely the beauty of history, the general uncertainty of it all. It is constantly changing, as there is a wealth of evidence out there just waiting to be found. What may be commonly accepted as fact today may not be considered so tomorrow. That is why I have chosen to study history and continue to learn all I can about it, so that I may be able to formulate my own answers to various questions, such as why trepanation was such a commonplace practice. What are your theories as to the purpose behind trepanation? Do you have any topic requests or suggestions for my next post?
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Author I am a history and pre-med student at Arizona State University. For as long as I can remember, I have had both a strong love for history and a desire to help others as a doctor. ArchivesCategories |