1. The document discusses trepanation, the ancient practice of drilling holes in the skull, which was commonly performed by cultures in the Andes region of South America. 2. Trepanation was a major surgical procedure, with around 13% of the population in the Andes having holes drilled in their skulls. In many cases, multiple trepanation procedures were performed on a single individual. 3. The reasons for trepanation included treating cranial fractures from injuries as well as unknown illnesses. Around 60% of trepanations were performed in areas of the skull that put the patient at high risk of complications.

1. 1
Ancient Trepanation & Brain Surgery in the Andes
Danielle S. Kurin, Ph.D.
Phillip L. Walker Bioarchaeology Lab
Department of Anthropology ● UC Santa Barbara

2. Selected images from a presentation:
Secrets of the Dead in Ancient Peru
By Danielle S. Kurin
See:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ9Oj_R-8T8&list=PL-
yx76EbPhMeQSWDzuLH5iodxSgrlCRHZ&index=8&t=594s

3. This presentation contains images of human remains.
Viewer discretion is advised.

4. 4
Trepanation
Making surgical holes in the skull

6. 6
Trepanation
Making surgical holes in the skull

7. Surgical intervention

8. 8
Trepanation
In 13% of population; 30% more than one

9. Scraping

10. Cut & groove

11. Bore & drill

12. 60% in risky areas

13. Over 50% associated with cranial fractures

14. 14
Survived

15. 15
Died

16. 10% over diseased bone

17. 17
Malady

18. 66% survived

19. 19
Good prognosis

20. 20
Poor prognosis

21. 21
Post-mortem experimentation

22. 22

23. Surgical cranioplasty

24. 24
Experimentation and innovation represented
adaptation to deal with calamity