Trephination

Definition

Trephination (also known as trepanning or burr holing) is a surgical intervention where a hole is drilled, incised or scraped into the skull using simple surgical tools. In drilling into the skull and removing a piece of the bone, the dura mater is exposed without damage to the underlying blood-vessels, meninges and brain.

More about: Trephination

Timeline

  • 6500 BCE
    First evidence of the surgical procedure of trephination found in France.
  • 5000 BCE
    Evidence of the surgical procedure of trephination found in China.
  • 950 BCE - 1400 BCE
    Evidence of the surgical procedure of trephination found in Mesoamerica.
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