Discovered the first ear surgery from the ancient skull 5,300 years ago

Recently, archaeologists in Spain have discovered the earliest evidence of ear surgery performed on humans. The discovery comes after an analysis was done on a skull dating back about 5,300 years.

Image of a 5,300-year-old skull.

Researchers from the University of Valladolid, Spain, analyzed the skull, which was unearthed in 2018 at the Dolmen of El Pendónis excavation site, near the city of Burgos in northern Spain. Their paper, published last week in the journal Scientific Reports, provides an analysis of two perforations inside the skull on both mastoid bones, located below the ears. These bones are thought to protect the ear as well as help regulate ear pressure.

The researchers believe that the person whose skull they unearthed may have received a primitive mastoidectomy. The surgery is done to help relieve pain caused by inflammation. That person could be a woman between the ages of 35 and 50. The team believes the person survived for at least a few months after the surgery. 'The results of this paper demonstrate individual survival for both interventions,' the researchers explained in their study.

Surgery could potentially be used to remove an infection that is now known to cause hearing loss, blood clots, meningitis, or brain abscess if left untreated. These infections can be detected as tumors on the ear, which can lead to preoperative surgical intervention. In this case, the preoperative surgeon identified the heart of the problem - possibly infection, and was clearly visible to the naked eye. They intervened successfully, the scientists write in the paper. work, as demonstrated by the bone remodeling observed in both mastoids".

However, the presumptive patient is likely to experience "unbearable pain" from circular drilling and abrasion - although it is difficult to pinpoint the exact type of tool used, they believe the patient may have sedation or the use of opiates or a similar sedative to relieve pain.

The first written record of mastectomy dates back to pre-antibiotic times in the 17th century, the researchers say. Previous studies have suggested that the Dolmen of El Pendónis excavation site was thought to have been used as a burial site. funeral chambers for about 800 years from 3,800 to 3,000 BC in human history.