Millenia-old skulls reveal surgery’s ancient origins

Editor's Note

New evidence from skulls in a university collection reveals that brain surgery dates back millennia—potentially as far back as 4,o00 years ago. CNN reported the news May 29.

Researchers expressed uncertainty in some cases whether marks on the skulls indicated surgery to treat a living person or an autopsy to investigate cancer after death. In either case, ““it’s amazing to think that they performed a surgical intervention” so long ago, the senior study author told CNN.

The skulls are part of the Duckworth Laboratory collection at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Although they’ve been studied since the mid-19th century, researchers only recently took a closer loop with a digital microscope and micro-computed tomography (CT) scans. The technology revealed signs of cut marks around lesions previous identified as bone damage from malignant tumors—marks the researchers attribute to deliberate attempts to remove the growths.

The full CNN report offers further context on the skull’s significance in tracing humanity’s earliest experiences with investigating and treating cancer, as well as quotes from the researchers. Findings from the new scans were published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine.