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Trepanning

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Trepanning is an ancient (back to Bronze Age) surgical procedure (the earliest attested) that involves cutting a one inch or so circular hole through a person's cranium, to relieve pressure from a brain bleed, or perhaps to vent evil spirits, or for other for other ritual reasons. There’s a substantial body of archeological evidence for the practice,

But I can’t help thinking the patients (subjects?) would have found it tedious. They must have been bored out of their skulls.

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Richard Walker

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Early surgical intervention was the top explanation about 60 years ago (such a persuasive notion) but I don’t buy it. I need more research.