Dated over 2000 years old, this grossly deformed skull originates from the Paracas region of Peru. The practice of head binding to create an elongated skull and trephination date back nearly 9000 years. Trephination was the surgical process of removing a section of skull. This is thought to have been performed to relieve pressure caused by the binding process or to allow access to the brain. It was not clear how these operations were performed until a complete surgical kit was discovered, including obsidian knives, spatulas made from sperm whale teeth, cotton balls, bandages, thread and needles. Surprisingly, patients survived these primitive surgeries as is evident by the healed bone edges. The act of elongating the skull was achieved by binding the head of a child with cloth, rope and boards. As the child’s skull grew and developed, it would elongate.

This original specimen resides in the Museum of Osteology collection.