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A scientific analysis of cranial trepanation from an Early Iron Age cemetery on the ancient Silk Road in Xinjiang, China

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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.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Major Program of the National Social Science Fund of China (Grant No. 11&ZD182), Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation for Young Teachers (Grant No. 141111), Special Funds for “Compass Plan” of the State administration of Cultural Heritage, the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars of State Education Ministry and Graduate Innovation Fund of Jilin University (Grant No. 2016123). The authors thank Dr. John W. Verano from Tulane University, who provided detailed instruction on the practice of trepanation study, and Dr. Christopher Dudar from the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, for the inspiring thoughts provided regarding this case. We are grateful to Tyler E. Dunn from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for the grammar editing and the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive suggestions and elaborative review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Chinese Frontier Archaeology, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Ave, Changchun, Jilin, China

    Qun Zhang, Chunxue Wang, Hong Zhu & Quanchao Zhang

  2. Key Scientific Research Base of Physical Anthropology and Molecular Archaeology, State Administration of Cultural Heritage, 2699 Qianjin Ave, Changchun, Jilin, China

    Qun Zhang, Chunxue Wang, Hong Zhu & Quanchao Zhang

  3. The JLU-SFU Joint Laboratory for Bioarchaeological Research, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Ave, Changchun, Jilin, China

    Qun Zhang, Chunxue Wang, Hong Zhu & Quanchao Zhang

  4. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, 3302 Gaston Ave, Dallas, TX, 75246, USA

    Qian Wang

  5. Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Ave, Changchun, Jilin, China

    Boyu Kong

  6. Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada

    Dongya Yang

  7. The SFU-JLU Joint Centre for Bioarchaeological Research, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada

    Dongya Yang

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  1. Qun Zhang
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Correspondence to Quanchao Zhang.

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Zhang, Q., Wang, Q., Kong, B. et al. A scientific analysis of cranial trepanation from an Early Iron Age cemetery on the ancient Silk Road in Xinjiang, China. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 10, 1319–1327 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-016-0461-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-016-0461-6

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