18 September 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

A 3200-year-old trepanned skull discovered in eastern Turkey’s Van province

A 3200-year-old trepanned skull was discovered in eastern Turkey’s Van province.

In the prehistoric era, Anatolia served as a transitional area for the first human settlement from the Neolithic period. Prehistoric people have left the tips of beliefs, rituals, and ways of their lives in this land.

Archeology, anthropology, and with the cooperation of medical science is trying to solve these tips. Preparation is one of the findings of this unique example that can be accepted as the beginning of the history of neurosurgery. Although first trepanation (Brain surgery) has been performed in a skull which discovered in Israel in Paleolithic period, the oldest trepanned skull was belonging to Neolithic human. However, many trepanations have been performed after deat.

The earliest trepanation in living human was discovered in Aşıklı Höyük. After Aşıklı Höyük, another extraordinary trepanation find in Anatolia was discovered during the ongoing salvage excavations in Van.

This special find was found during the salvage excavation in the Early Iron Age necropolis in the İçimli hamlet of Uzuntekne Village in the Çatak district of Van.

The exciting find was shared on the social media account of the Excavations and Research Department of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The trepanation find, which was discovered during the rescue excavations of the Early Iron Age necropolis, which started in 2016 under the presidency of the Van Museum and carried out under the scientific consultancy of Dr. Gulan Ayaz from the Department of Archeology at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University for two years, by the Excavations and Research Department, “Four seasons in our excavations. An extraordinary example of trepanation dating back 3200 years from our rescue excavations carried out by our YYU faculty members under the presidency of the Van Museum…” announced as.

Trepanation has been for thousands of years, making it one of the oldest medical procedures known to the human race.

Trepanation was thought to be a remedy for a variety of conditions, including head injuries in ancient times. It may also have been used to treat pain. Some scientists also think that the technique was used in rituals to expel spirits from the body.

We will continue to convey the developing information about the second extraordinary 3200-year-old trepanation find after Aşıklı Höyük.

Related Articles

Thousand-year-old bone skate discovered in Czech Republic

20 March 2024

20 March 2024

Archaeologists from the central Moravian city of Přerov, Czech Republic have announced a unique discovery. While carrying out excavations in...

3,500-Year-Old Rice Discovery Marks Longest Early Ocean Journey

24 July 2025

24 July 2025

Breakthrough research reveals ancient rice remains in Guam, offering insight into early Austronesian culture and a remarkable 2,300-kilometer early ocean...

Ancient skeletons buried with gold jewelry and expensive leather shoes found in newly discovered Roman necropolis in Italy

5 January 2024

5 January 2024

Archaeologists involved in a two-year-long excavation project at the site of a planned solar energy plant ancient city of Tarquinia,...

Flint tools found in Tunel Wielki Cave, Poland, about half a million years old

9 October 2022

9 October 2022

Flint tools discovered over 50 years ago in the Tunel Wielki Cave (Maopolskie region) are not tens of thousands of...

Stone Penis Found in Medieval Spanish ruins Had Violent Purpose

11 June 2023

11 June 2023

Archaeologists found a six-inch stone penis while excavating the Tower of Meira (Torre de Meira) in the city of Ría...

Unique Gems found in Claterna, known as the ‘Pompeii of the North’

18 November 2023

18 November 2023

Italian archaeologists have unearthed 50 unique jewels during ongoing excavations at Claterna, the ancient Roman site known as the ‘Pompeii...

Thracian Horseman Votive Tablet Discovered in Bulgaria

28 July 2023

28 July 2023

A stone votive relief depicting a Thracian horseman was found during excavations at the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica, located...

World’s Largest Geoglyphs Found in the Thar Desert

29 May 2021

29 May 2021

A massive spiral encompassing 100,000 square meters unearthed in the Indian desert may be the greatest drawing ever drawn. The...

Klazomenai, ceramic center of ancient period was found the first seal belonging to the city

20 November 2022

20 November 2022

A seal belonging to the city was found for the first time during excavations in the ancient city of Klazomenai...

A new magnetic survey of the ancient Assyrian capital of Khorsabad has revealed a 127-room villa twice the size of the U.S. White House

26 December 2024

26 December 2024

Archaeologists in northern Iraq have conducted an extensive magnetic survey using an exhaustive magnetic survey at Khorsabad, once the ancient...

2,000-Year-Old Garlanded Sarcophagus Unearthed in City of Gladiators

2 May 2025

2 May 2025

A remarkably well-preserved, 2,000-year-old sarcophagus adorned with intricate garlands has been discovered during ongoing excavations in the ancient city of...

200,000-year-old hand axe discovered in the northern part of Saudi Arabia

5 November 2023

5 November 2023

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) of Saudi Arabia has announced that archeological excavation teams at the Qurh site in...

Researchers found evidence of the use of medicinal herbs in the Grotte des Pigeons Cave in Morocco dating back 15,000 years

5 November 2024

5 November 2024

Morocco’s National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage has announced an important discovery that will enhance our understanding of ancient healing...

The Tomb of Prince with a Monumental Pink Granite False Door Unearthed in Saqqara

23 April 2025

23 April 2025

In a remarkable archaeological discovery, an Egyptian team has unveiled the tomb of Prince Waser-If-Re, son of Pharaoh Userkaf, the...

Secrets of the Skull Room: 12 Ancient Human Skulls Unearthed in Sefertepe Excavations

16 September 2025

16 September 2025

Archaeologists have uncovered 12 new human skulls during ongoing excavations at Sefertepe, one of the most important sites of the...