Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin
Anthropology
Bulletin
Institute of archaeology RAS, Dm. Ulyanova str., 19, Moscow, 117036, Russia
Mednikova Maria B. PhD, D. Sci.; ORCID ID 0000-0002-1918-2161; medma_pa@mail.ru.
Material and methods. This paper presents the palaeopathological study of a young (around 25 years) Berber woman’s skull. During lives of many generations, this cranium had been saved in dolmen on the cemetery of Taberga village (Algeria) and was used as an object of after-death manipulations by Chaouia tribe’s healers. These healers are known for their extensive skill and knowledge in trepanations. The goal of this research is to find pathological features on the skull that are connected to some common disease, which might have been a reason for trepanation. Results. It was found that the woman had a chronic disease for a long time. We used differential diagnostic methods to choose between oncology and a number of bacterial infections, including endemic treponematoses or yaws. Wide lesions by cribra orbitalia provide evidence for death from malaria, which together with the chronic disease became lethal for the woman. There are 21 invasive episodes on her skull, all without healing. Trepanations were made by standard instruments by drilling or cutting. Conclusion. It is possible to suggest that the first trepanation (which is the largest invasion) was done for treatment purposes because the woman could have had strong headaches, convulsions or faints. The further operations were postmortem. Based on written evidence, these operations became part of the rite, when a tribal doctor of every new generation must show his knowledge in trepanning of this skull. Description of this case helps to light motivation of surgeons, who performed the most ancient operation in human history.
trepanation; palaeopathology; Northern Africa; Berber; 15-18 centuries; chronic bacterial infection; malaria
DOI: 10.32521/2074-8132.2018.4.082-092
Цит.: Mednikova M.B. Ethnographic trepanation in the focus of palaeopathological research // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2018; 4/2018; с. 82-92
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