engleski

Three Bronze Age Trepanations from Croatia

Trepanation is probably one of the most interesting intentional interventions observed on human skeletal remains. Cases of trepanation are documented in the archaeological record since Neolithic times and from all around the world. Here we present possible cases of trepanation recorded on crania from three Bronze Age (BA) sites in Croatia. We performed a comprehensive macroscopic analysis as well as radiographic imaging (X-ray and CT scanning) of the skulls. The first case is that of an adult male from the Cetina site dated to the Early BA culture. The second case is found on a juvenile from the Jagodnjak site, a biritual necropolis dated to the transition between the Early and the Middle BA and to the Middle BA Encrusted Pottery culture. The third trepanation is observed on an adult female from Bezdanjača Cave, dated to the Middle and the transition to the Late BA. All three cases exhibit numerous similarities: (i) all are located on the right side of the frontal bone ; (ii) all three are oval or round- shaped with an approximate diameter of 10 mm ; (iii) in at least two cases all three layers of calvarium were breached and the edges around the openings are smooth, remodeled and of uniform thickness. Our analysis suggest that in all three cases the procedure was most likely conducted by scraping technique.

paleopathology ; bioarchaeology ; trepanation ; bronze age ; prehistory ; Croatia

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