Archaeologists have discovered a human skull in northern Israel with a rectangular hole, indicating that a hole was drilled into its head. The researchers said it was a clear sign of “brain surgery” some 3,500 years ago, but other scientists countered that the unusual hole could have been opened not for medical reasons, but after death as part of a ritual.

A related publication in the journal PloS One analyzed two skeletons found in 2016 in a Late Bronze Age tomb in the city of Tell Megiddo, one of the richest and most cosmopolitan cities in the region, dating back to the 19th century BC. DNA analysis showed that they were brothers and sisters.

Further examination of their skeletons showed that both suffered – perhaps due to a genetic predisposition – from severe chronic infectious diseases (perhaps from leprosy or tuberculosis) that destroyed some of their bones. The younger brother died at the age of 20 between 1550-1450. BC, the older brother died at the age of 21-46 a few years later. Exquisite Cypriot ceramic vessels and other high-quality items were found in their tomb, indicating that the deceased had a higher social status, while it is possible that they were members of the royal family.

The older brother had a square piece about three centimeters long removed from the front of his skull, which is estimated to have been done days or even hours before his death. The hypothesis of the researchers is that it was a medical operation of trypanism with a sharp instrument, aimed at curing the patient from serious problems from which he suffered.

“The body of evidence suggests that this was a person who had been ill for an extended period of time, so he may have had some kind of surgery or life-saving attempt,” Calliser said. “We have evidence that trepanation has been a widespread form of surgery for thousands of years. But in the Middle East, we don’t see it as often, with only about a dozen drilling cases identified for the entire region,” he added.

Evidence of cranial trypanism has been found in several other even older cases in South America, Africa, and elsewhere, although this particular case is the oldest found in the Middle East. It is generally believed that they were attempts by various ancient cultures to treat various diseases.

Calliser noted that scientists still don’t know much about ancient drills, such as why some holes are round while others are square or triangular. It is also not clear how common this procedure was in each region, or what the ancient “surgeons” tried to treat in the first place. However, as she said, “you have to be in a very bad position to drill a hole in your head.”

He added that “in ancient times there was much more tolerance and care than many people think. We have evidence that already in the time of the Neanderthals, people took care of each other, even in very difficult circumstances … In the past, people did not stop being people.

^{Source: RES-IPE}