During excavations at the Djarkutan settlement in southern Uzbekistan, trepanation marks from a 4,000-year-old brain surgery on a 5-year-old child from the Bronze Age were discovered. This finding, uncovered by Italian and Uzbek archaeologists, represents the earliest documented surgical intervention in Central Asia to date [1].
Delicate Incisions Using Stone and Bone Tools
Researchers indicate that the hole in the child's skull was made with remarkable precision using stone or bone instruments. This high-risk procedure is believed to have been performed to treat conditions such as epilepsy, severe migraines, or certain behavioral disorders [2]. The child's burial was found in the Oxus civilization settlement at Djarkutan, alongside another younger child.
Discovery Redefines Historical Understanding
Enrico Ascalone from the University of Salento emphasizes that performing skull surgery on a child 4,000 years ago in Central Asia would have been unimaginable until recently, but new data now confirms its occurrence. This discovery sheds light on advanced medical knowledge in ancient communities and provides groundbreaking insights into how prehistoric societies addressed neurological conditions [3]. Experts aim to further clarify who performed this surgery and their social status through deeper analysis of the Djarkutan site.
References and Further Reading
- [1] Bronze Age 5-year-old's skull found in Uzbekistan is the oldest known evidence of surgery in Central Asia | Live Science
- [2] Archaeologists just uncovered evidence that a 5-year-old underwent ...
- [3] 4,000-Year-Old Bronze Age Child Skull Found in Uzbekistan ...
Image & Source: Archaeology / archaeology.org