Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Neurosurgical pathology in prehistory

  • Published:
Acta Neurochirurgica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

This is a concise study of the prehistorical trepanation which we have interpreted on the basis of our personal experience from the examination of more than three thousand skulls. We have also inquired into the reasons that have given rise to trepanation, and at the same time have tried to clarify some of the inconsistensies of this subject.

The study includes reference to the pathological lesions that are more frequent in the prehistorical skulls. In iconography there are few samples of these lesions in which the diagnosis is very difficult.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ballance, C., The Thomas Vicary lecture, a glimpse into the history surgery of the brain, pp. 110. London: Macmillan. 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Barras de Aragón, F., Estudio de los cráneos procedentes de un yacimiento neolítico de Alcazar del Rey (Cuenca). Madrid, Act. y Mem. Soc. Espanola Antrop., Etnol. y Prehist. (1931), X, pp. 3–93.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bello, cited by Lastre (1960), pp. 11.

  4. Bosch Millares, J., La terapéutica quirúrgica de los primitivos pobladores de Canarias. Gran Canaria, “El Museo Canario” (1960), pp. 135–145.

  5. Broca, P., Sur trépanations préhistoriques. Paris, Bull. Soc. d'Anthrop. (1874), X, pp. 542–555.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Brothwell, D., Sandison, A. T., Diseases in antiquity, pp. 766. Springfield, Ill.: Ch. C Thomas. 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Campillo, D., Lesiones patológicas en cráneos prehistóricos de la región valenciana. Valencia, Ed. Serv. Invest. Prehist. (1976), pp. 96.

  8. Campillo, D., Paleopatología del cráneo en Cataluna, Valencia y Baleares, pp. 630. Barcelona: Montblanc-Martín. 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Dastugue, J., Lumley, Ma. A., Les maladies des hommes préhistoriques, II, pp. 153. Paris: La préhistoire Française. 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Furgus, J., La Edat prehistòrica de Oriola (Necrópoli de “San Antón”), pp. 73. Valencia: Ed. S. I. P. 1937.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Garrison, F. H., Historia de la medicina, pp. 664. México: Ed. Interamericana. 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Guiard, E., La trépanation crânienne chez les néolithiques et chez les primitifs modernes, pp. 126. Paris: Masson. 1930.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hansen, Primitive trépanation. Copenhagen, Bibliotek for Laeger Kobenh. (1888), 7, B5, pp. 242.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Horsley, cited by Ballance (1922), pp. 95.

  15. Lastre, J., Cabieses, F., La trepanación del cráneo en el antiguo Perú, pp. 207. Lima: Univ. Mayor San Marcos. 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  16. López Pinero, J. Ma., La trepanación en Espana, pp. 480. Madrid: Técnica Espanola. 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Lucas-Championnière, Les trépanations. Paris. 1878.

  18. MacCurdy, G., Surgery among ancient Peruvians. Art. and Archeol. (1918), pp. 381–394.

  19. MacGee, W. J., Primitive trephining illustrated by the Muniz Peruvian collection. Bull. Johns Hopkins Hosp. (1894), 5:1.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Malbot, H., Verneau, R., Les Chaovias et la trépanation du crâne dans l'Aures, VIII, pp. 1–18 and 174–204. Paris: L'Anthropologie. 1897.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Manouvrier, M. L., Le T sincipital curieuse mutilation crânienne néolithique. Bull. Soc. d'Anthrop. de Paris, Series 4,6 (1895), 357–360.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Meschig, R., Schadewaldt, H., Trépanations en Afrique Orientale9, 3, pp. 17–24. Paris: Ed. Hexagone (Roche). 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Müller, cited by Lucas-Championnière.

  24. Nadillach, M., Les trépanations préhistoriques, X, pp. 462–463. Paris: L'Anthropologie. 1900.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Pales, L., Paléopathologie et pathologie comparative, pp. 352. Paris: Masson. 1930.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Prunieres, L., Sur les crânes artificiellement perforés à l'époque des dolmens. Paris, Bull. et Mém. Soc. d'Anthrop. Series 2, IX, pp. 185–205.

  27. Thurel, R., Baldacci, Y. M., Les crânes perforés de la préhistoire. Sem. des Hosp. de Paris33 (1953), 3544–3551.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Tejerina, J. M., La trepanatión prehistórica en Mallorca, XX, pp. 191–219. Madrid: Asclepios. 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Vara López, R., La craniectomia a través de los siglos, pp. 149. Valladolid: Ed. S.E.V.E.R. 1949.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Walker, E., O'Connor, D., A history of the neurological surgery, pp. 583. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins. 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Weiss, P., Osteología cultural, II, pp. 140. Lima: Univ. Mayor San Marcos. 1961.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. D. Campillo

    Present address: Neurosurgery Service, “Quinta de Salud La Alianza” and Paleoanthropology Laboratory of the “Museu Arqueològic”, Barcelona, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

    Authors
    1. D. Campillo
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Cite this article

    Campillo, D. Neurosurgical pathology in prehistory. Acta neurochir 70, 275–290 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01406656

    Download citation

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01406656

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation