A scientific analysis of cranial trepanation from an Early Iron Age cemetery on the ancient Silk Road in Xinjiang,China |
| |
| Authors: | Qun Zhang Qian Wang Boyu Kong Chunxue Wang Dongya Yang Hong Zhu Quanchao Zhang |
| |
| Institution: | 1.Research Center for Chinese Frontier Archaeology,Jilin University,Changchun,China;2.Key Scientific Research Base of Physical Anthropology and Molecular Archaeology,State Administration of Cultural Heritage,Changchun,China;3.The JLU-SFU Joint Laboratory for Bioarchaeological Research,Jilin University,Changchun,China;4.Department of Biomedical Sciences,Texas A&M University College of Dentistry,Dallas,USA;5.Department of Radiology,The First Hospital of Jilin University,Changchun,China;6.Department of Archaeology,Simon Fraser University,Burnaby,Canada;7.The SFU-JLU Joint Centre for Bioarchaeological Research,Burnaby,Canada |
| |
| Abstract: | This study uses multiple scientific methods to analyse a case of trepanation from a cemetery located at the westernmost point along the ancient Silk Road in China dating back to the Early Iron Age. The skull of interest belonged to a middle-aged male; the opening is located on the left posterior side of the skull in the occipital bone. Computer tomography (CT) and microscopic observation show that the incision was unhealed, indicating an immediate death either during or after the operation. The procedure of trepanation might have been used to treat a depressed fracture from inflicted trauma on the individual’s right parietal bone, suggesting the presence of surgical trepanation in early Western China. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
