A Byzantine-era woman’s skull discovered in central Italy revealed that this middle-aged woman had undergone invasive surgical procedures at least twice.
The skull of a 50-year-old-ish medieval woman, circa 6th to 8th century, shows evidence of trepanation. Credit: Micarelli et al., International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 2023
The skull was unearthed in the Lombard necropolis of Castel Trosino, which served as a burial ground from the sixth to the ninth century. With the fall of the Roman Empire, the site was transformed into a strategic Byzantine stronghold and was home to some of the wealthiest Lombard families.
Excavations at Castel Trosino have yielded lavish burial goods like gold and fine jewelry, but the research authors claim their latest discovery is “the first evidence of a cross-shaped bone modification on a living subject.”
According to the authors, this woman probably suffered from some kind of systemic condition. Periodontal disease was evident in her teeth, with acute abscesses and severe molar wear associated with tooth loss.
Molding and casting process on CT1953 skull. Credit: Micarelli et al., International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 2023
The CT scans also revealed evidence of hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI), a thickening of the inner side of the frontal bone of the skull. The disease is widespread in menopausal women and corresponds to the skull’s age.
It often accompanies other conditions like seizures, headaches, obesity, and diabetes. A healed perforating trauma is also consistent with frontal bone thickening, although such injuries are usually fatal, that wasn’t the case with this skull.
Alternatively, the procedures might have a ritualistic rationale. The Avar people of the Carpathian basin often used cranial scraping in this context, and the researchers note that the culture of the Longobard people of Castel Trosino was tightly intertwined with Byzantine culture.
However, they detected no evidence of trepanation practices among the Longobard people. The cut marks for that type of scalping have a distinctive pattern that differs from the cut marks on the woman’s skull.
“We found that the woman had survived several surgeries, having undergone long-term surgical therapy, which consisted of a series of successive drillings,” study author Ileana Micarelli explained in a statement.
“The last surgery seems to have taken place shortly before the death of the individual,” said co-author Giorgio Manzi.
Virtual analyses of the skull. Credit: Micarelli et al., International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 2023
Despite the fact that the researchers found no clear evidence of “trauma, tumor, congenital disorder, or other pathology,” a medical explanation was ultimately determined to be the most likely.
“This represents one of the few pieces of archeological evidence of a trepanation surgery performed on Early Medieval women paving the path for future research on the rationale behind this dangerous surgical procedure in this period,” conclude the authors.
The study published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
News
A 3,800-year-old bυrial jar has beeп discovered by archaeologists approximately 10 feet (3 meters) below the road sυrface iп Jaffa.
It’s a mystery why the baby was bυried iп a jar. Archaeologists foυпd aп iпfaпt jar bυrial aboυt 10 feet (3 meters) υпder street level iп Jaffa, which dated to the middle Broпze Age II. (Image credit: Yoav Arbel/Israel Aпtiqυities…
Aпcieпt Excavatioп Uпearths Eпigmatic Two-Headed Giaпt Mυmmy
The story of Kap Dwa, which literally meaпs “two-headed,” appears iп British records iп the early 20th ceпtυry Coυпtless people have claimed to eпcoυпter giaпts throυghoυt history. Greek titaпs, varioυs Norse giaпts, the Chiпese giaпt Paпgυ, aпd the Biblical giaпts…
In an ancient Greek cemetery, archaeologists have unearthed a mass grave containing eighty skeletons bound together by iron chains. The discovery is quite chilling
А𝚛cһɑеᴏlᴏցіѕtѕ һɑνе սոcᴏνе𝚛еԁ mуѕtе𝚛іᴏսѕ 𝚛еmɑіոѕ ɑt tһе Fɑlу𝚛ᴏո Dеltɑ ոеc𝚛ᴏрᴏlіѕ іո Аtһеոѕ. Аt lеɑѕt 80 ѕkеlеtᴏոѕ ᴡе𝚛е 𝚏ᴏսոԁ 𝚋ս𝚛іеԁ іո ɑ mɑѕѕ ց𝚛ɑνе іո ɑո ɑոсіеոt Ԍ𝚛ееk cеmеtе𝚛у, ᴡіtһ tһеі𝚛 ᴡ𝚛іѕtѕ сlɑmреԁ 𝚋у і𝚛ᴏո ѕһɑсklеѕ. Ехре𝚛tѕ 𝚋еlіеνе tһеу ᴡе𝚛е νісtіmѕ…
Breaking: Unraveling the Mystery of Giants – Extraordinary Individuals, Five Meters Tall, Strolling the Streets of Russia
The image portrays a sceпe where toweriпg figυres, estimated to be aroυпd 5 meters tall, are dressed iп what appears to be attire from aпcieпt times or possibly a bygoпe era. They staпd amidst a crowd of пormal-sized iпdividυals, creatiпg…
Did Ancient Indians Understand the Science of Fertilization without a Microscope? Here Are the Fascinating Facts!
Aпcieпt Iпdiaпs Kпew Scieпce of Fertilizatioп withoυt a Microscope? Here Are the Wow Facts! Did British preseпt Iпdia as “laпd of sпake charmers”, iпstead of preseпtiпg the right sпake aпd its aпcieпt scieпce??? The images of fertilizatioп below are from…
Breaking: Unveiling the Ancient Secret Buried 50,000 Years Ago: The Enigma of the Man Murdered in Ancient Rome
Uпlockiпg the Aпcieпt Secret Bυried 50,000 Years Ago: The Mystery of the Maп Who Was Mυrdered iп Aпcieпt Rome” delves iпto a captivatiпg tale that spaпs milleппia, bleпdiпg history, archaeology, aпd foreпsic scieпce to υпravel the eпigma of a loпg-forgotteп…
End of content
No more pages to load