The History of Surgery

Long before modern hospitals and anesthesia, humans experimented with surgery in ways that might surprise you. Evidence of primitive surgical practices has been found in ancient skulls, many with round holes carefully bored into them. This process, called trepanation, dates back as far as 7000 BC, making it one of the oldest known surgical procedures. Archaeologists believe early surgeons used sharp stones and rudimentary tools to open the skull, possibly to relieve pressure after head injuries or to release evil spirits, as believed by some cultures. Remarkably, many skulls show signs of healing, suggesting that some patients survived these harrowing operations. Beyond skull surgery, early humans also performed basic wound care, set broken bones, and even amputated limbs. These acts required immense bravery from both patient and practitioner. While we might shudder at the thought of surgery without pain relief or antiseptics, our distant ancestors laid the foundation for what would become a cornerstone of medicine. Their determination to heal, even with limited knowledge and crude tools, marks the true beginning of surgery’s story.