[Fred Nerks]

3,800 skulls of inhibitants [sic] of the Baltic Sea coast of previous centuries have been investigated beginning with the neolithic period up to the 18th century. 10 cases of skull trepanation were found, 8 of which were performed in Latvia, 6 were successful. One of them is of large size (120 x 60 mm) and shows traces of healing. It is dated back to the neolithic period.

ARTICLE LINK

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The most interesting findings unearthed during the excavations are skulls, which underwent surgical operation. In the graveyard on the highest hill in the ancient site, dating back to 2300-2100 BC, eight out of the 690 skeletons had skulls with traces of surgical operation. These skulls have archaeological importance since they are the only ones unearthed in Anatolia. They also show that people who lived there did not have the characteristics of Mediterranean people but of southern Russians and Bulgarians.

Joe Zias, in an article in Mikhmanim (Spring 1999), says there have been 29 skulls showing trepanation (trephination) discovered in Israel. He says the survival rate based on “inflammatory or bone remodeling” indicate a 77 percent survival rate in these cases.

SOURCE

[GeronL]

I have many doubts about this.

This guy could have been hit in the head with a rock and survived a while afterwards. Jumping to the conclusion that this was a “surgery” seems preposterous to me.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks FN!