The Museum of Osteology in Oklahoma reports that they have in their collection a 2,000-year-old skull of a Peruvian warrior, which showcases one of the world’s earliest known instances of advanced surgery. According to experts, the skull belonged to a man who sustained injuries in battle and subsequently underwent surgery where a piece of metal was implanted into his head to repair a fracture.
Remarkably, the man survived the surgery, making this skull a significant piece of evidence demonstrating that ancient civilizations possessed the capability to perform sophisticated medical procedures. The skull is part of a collection of Peruvian elongated skulls, which represent an ancient form of cranial modification. This practice involved intentionally deforming the skulls of young children through various methods, such as binding them with cloth or using wooden boards, to achieve elongated shapes.
