Trepanation and artificial cranial deformations in ancient Armenia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2478/v10044-010-0004-1Keywords:
trephination, Shirak Plateau, modification of skulls, modification of teethAbstract
The purpose of the paper is to review surgical and ritual practices on people living on the Shirak Plateau (Armenia) during the Late Antiquity period (1st century BC – 3rd century AD) and is based on human remains uncovered at sites in Beniamin, Black Fortress I, Shirakavan, Karmrakar and Vardbakh. The basic demographic data for these cases, including the age and sex of the skeleton, the precise location of the trepanation, the form of the trepanation and instruments used, and the presence of any associated pathologies, injuries, diseases, or developmental deformities on the skeleton, are specified. The phenomenon of artificial skull and teeth modifications identified at ancient burials sites in Armenia clearly points to the emergence of social complexity and class differentiation, and hence the need for social distinction, which in this case was accomplished through the use of body markings. A compilation of case reports and information on trepanation and deformation is essential for a bioarcheological study of the procedure.
Downloads
References
Arakelyan B.N., 1976, Očerki po istorii iskysstva drevnej Armenii (VI v. do n.e. - III v. n.e.) [Outlines of the history of ancient Armenian art (VI c. BC - III c. AD)], National Academy of Science of Armenia, Yerevan
View in Google Scholar
Ackerknecht E.H., 1947, Primitive Surgery, Am. Anthropol., 49, 25-45
View in Google Scholar
Açikkol A., I. Günay, E. Akpolat, E. Güleç, 2009, A Middle Bronze Age case of trephination from central Anatolia, Turkey, Bull. Int. Assoc. Paleodont., 3, 28-39
View in Google Scholar
Aufderheide A.C., C. Rodriguez-Martin, 1998, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Paleopathology, Cambridge University Press
View in Google Scholar
Avagyan I., 2003, Sev Amroci" hushardcani dambaranadasht [Black Fortress site and cemetery], [in:] Hayastani hnaguin mshakyit [The ancient culture of Armenia], A. Qalantaryan, R. Badalyan (eds.), Mukhni, Yerevan, pp. 128-34
View in Google Scholar
Batieva E.F., 2008, K voprosu ob iskysstvennoi deformacii čerepa na Nižnem Donu v epohu srednej bronzy [To a question on artificial deformation of skull on the Lower Don during the average Bronze Age], [in:] Aktualnye napravlenija antropologii [Current directions in anthropology], Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, pp. 26-33
View in Google Scholar
Broca P., 1876, Sur l'âge des sujets à la trépanation chirurgicale néolithique, Bull. Soc. d'Anthrop. Paris, 11, 572-76
View in Google Scholar
Brothwell D.R., 1994, Ancient trephining: Multi-focal evolution or trans-world diffusion, J. Paleopathol., 6, 129-38
View in Google Scholar
Blom D.E., B. Hallgimsson, L. Keng, M.C. Lozada, J.E. Buikstra, 1998, Tiwanaku "Colonization": Bioarchaeological Implications for Migration in the Moquegua Valley, Peru, World Archaeology, 30, 238-61
View in Google Scholar
Buikstra J.E., D.H. Uberlaker, 1994, Standards for the recording of human skeletal remains, Seminar at the Field Museum of Natural History 44, Arkansas Archaeological Survey Research Series
View in Google Scholar
Delfino A., 1948, Alteraciones dento-maxilares intencionales de carater etnico-nuevo clasificacion, Revista del Museo de La Plata, Buenos Aires
View in Google Scholar
Dingwall E.I., 1931, Artificial cranial deformation: A contribution to the study of the ethnic mutilations, John Bale, Sons & Danielsson, London
View in Google Scholar
Eganyan L.G., 2010, Shiraki hnagitakan ev patma-azgagrakan hetazotytyunner [Archaeological and historical-ethnographic research at Shirak], vol. I, Gyumri, Yerevan
View in Google Scholar
Erdal Y.S., 2005, Ikiztepe Erken Tunç Çağı Insanlarında Trepenasyon: Olası Nedenleri, Arkeometri Sonuçları Toplantısı, 20, 101-12
View in Google Scholar
Erdal Y.S., 2008, Occlusal grooves in anterior dentition among Kovuklukaya inhabitants (Sinop, Northern Anatolia, 10th century AD), Int. J. Osteoarchaeol., 18, 152-66
View in Google Scholar
Ferembach D., 1970, Etude anthropologique des ossements humains néolithiques de Tell-Ramad, Syrie, L'Anthropologie, 74, 244-75
View in Google Scholar
Ferembach D., 1985, Quelques coutumes et modes préhistoriques intéressant le crane, Arqueologia (Porto), 12, 47-56
View in Google Scholar
Firshtein B.B., 1974, Materialy k antropologii naselenija epohi bronzy Nižnego Podon'ja [Anthropological materials from the Bronze Age Lower Don population], [in:] Problemy antroplogii i morfologii čeloveka [Problems of anthropology and human morphology]. Science, Leningrad, pp. 98-123
View in Google Scholar
Gadzhiev A.G., 1975, Drevnee naselenie Dagestana po dannym kraniologii [Craniological data from the ancient Dagestan], Moscow, Science
View in Google Scholar
Gandhi D., 2011, ‘Brain surgery’ during Harappan civilisation? The Hindu http://www.andaman.org/BOOK/reprints/sankhyan/burzahom.htm
View in Google Scholar
Gertzen P.C., 1993, An Investigation into the Practice of Cranial Deformation among the Pre-Columbian Peoples of Northern Chile, Int. J. Osteoarchaeol., 3, 87-98
View in Google Scholar
Ghannan D., 1963, Chronique archéologique, Revue biblique, 70, 421-23
View in Google Scholar
Gilbert B.M, T.W. McKern, 1973, A method for aging the female os pubis, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 38, 31-38
View in Google Scholar
Hershkovitz I., 1987. Trephination: The earliest case in the Middle East. Mitekufat Haeven, Journal Israel Prehistoric Soc., 20, 128-35
View in Google Scholar
Ivanovski A.A., 1901, Zuby u različnyh čelovečeskih ras [Teeth in various human races], Russian Anthropological Journal 3-4, 203-13
View in Google Scholar
Katz D., J.M. Suchey, 1986, Age determination of the male os pubis, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 69, 427-35
View in Google Scholar
Khudaverdyan A. Yu., 1996, Iskysstvenno deformirovannye zuby iz raskopok Beniaminskogo mogil'nika [Artificially deformed teeth from the Beniamin burial site], Bulletin of the Yerevan University, 2 (89), 215-17
View in Google Scholar
Khudaverdyan A. Yu., 1997, Iskusstvenno-deformirovannye čerepa i zuby iz pogrebenij antičnogo mogil'nika Beniamin [Artificially-deformed skulls and teeth from the ancient burial site at Beniamin], Bulletin of Social Studies, Armenian Academy of Sciences, 2 (595), 138-44
View in Google Scholar
Khudaverdyan A. Yu., 2000, Naselenie Armjanskogo nagor'ja v antičnuiy epohu (po antropologičeskim dannym Beniaminskogo mogil'nika [Data on the population of the Armenian Highland from the Beniamin burial site], Big Tigran, Yerevan
View in Google Scholar
Khudaverdyan A. Yu., 2005, Atlas paleopatologičeskih nahodok na territorii Armenii [Atlas of paleopathological findings in Armenia], Van Aryan, Yerevan
View in Google Scholar
Khudaverdyan A. Yu., 2009, Naselenie Armjanskogo nagor'ja v epohu bronzy. Etnogenez i etničeskaja istorija [The Bronze Age population of the Armenian Highland: Ethnogenesis and ethnic history], Van Aryan, Yerevan
View in Google Scholar
Khudaverdyan A., 2010a, Pattern of disease in three 1st century BC - 3rd century AD burials from Beniamin, Vardbakh and the Black Fortress I, Shiraksky Plateau (Armenia), Journal of Paleopathology (Italy), 22, 15-41
View in Google Scholar
Khudaverdyan A., 2010b, Palaeopathology of human remains from Vardbakh and the Black Fortress I, Armenia, Bioarchaeology of the Near East, 4, 1-23
View in Google Scholar
Khudaverdyan A., 2011a, Migrations in the Eurasian steppes in the light of paleoanthropological data, Mankind Quarterly, 51 (4), 387-463
View in Google Scholar
Khudaverdyan A., 2011b, Artificial modification of skulls and teeth from ancient burials in Armenia, Anthropos, 106 (2), 602-9
View in Google Scholar
Kurth G., O. Roher-Ertl, 1981, On the anthropology of the Mesolithic to Chalcolithic human remains from the Tell es-Sultan in Jericho, Jordan, [in:] Excavations at Jericho, K.M. Kenyon (ed.), British School of Archaeology, Jerusalem, pp. 407-99
View in Google Scholar
Lichtenfeld M., 2001, Artificial Cranial Modification in the Jequetepeque Valley, Peru, Master's thesis, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
View in Google Scholar
Lisowsky F.P., 1967, Prehistoric and Early Historic Trepanation, [in:] Diseases in Antiquity, D. Brothwell, A. Sandison (eds.), C.C. Thomas, Springfield, pp. 651-72
View in Google Scholar
Lorentz K.O., 2010, Ubaid neadshaping: Negotiations of identity through physical appearance?, [in:] The Ubaid expansion? Cultural meaning, identity and lead-up to urbanism, International Workshop help at Grey College, University of Durham, 20-22 April 2006, R.A. Carter, P. Graham (eds.), University of Chicago, Chicago, pp. 125-48
View in Google Scholar
Lovejoy C.O., R.S. Meindl, T.R. Pryzbeck, R.P. Mensforth, 1985, Chronological metamorphosis of the auricular surface of the ilium: A new method for the determination of adult skeletal age at death, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 68, 15-28
View in Google Scholar
Margetts L., 1967, Trepanation of the skull by the medicine-men of primitive cultures, with particular reference to present-day native East African practice, [in:] Diseases in Antiquity, D. Brothwell, A.T. Sandison (eds.), t. 11, Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Il., pp. 673-701
View in Google Scholar
Merbs C.F., 1983, Patterns of activity-included pathology in a Canadian Inuit population, Archaeological Survey of Canada, Mercury Series 119, National Museum of Man, Ottawa
View in Google Scholar
Meiklejohn C., A. Agelarakis, P.A. Akkermans, P.E.L. Smith, R. Solecki, 1992, Artificial cranial deformation in the proto-neolithic and neolithic Near East and its possible origin: Evidence from four sites, Paléorient, 18/2, 83-97
View in Google Scholar
Meindl R.S., C.O. Lovejoy, R.P. Mensforth, L.D. Carlos, 1985, Accuracy and direction of error in the sexing of the skeleton: Implications for paleodemography, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 68, 79-85
View in Google Scholar
Moorrees C.F., E.A. Fanning, E.E. Hunt, 1963a, Formation and resorption of three deciduous teeth in children, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 21, 205-13
View in Google Scholar
Moorrees C.F., E.A. Fanning, E.E. Hunt, 1963b, Age variation of formation stages for ten permanent teeth, J. Dental Research, 42, 1490-502
View in Google Scholar
Ortner D.J., W.G.J. Putschar, 1985, Identification of Pathological Conditions in Human Skeletal Remains, Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology No. 28, Washington
View in Google Scholar
Özbek M., 1974, A propos des déformations craniennes artificielles observées au Proche Orient, Paleorient, 2, 469-76
View in Google Scholar
Özbek M., 1991, Aşıklı Höyük Neolitik İnsanları, Arkeometri Sonuçları Toplantısı, 7, 145-60
View in Google Scholar
Özbek M., 1998, Çayönü'nde Kafatası Delgi Operasyonu, Hacettepe üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, Cumhuriyetimizin 75, Yılı özel Sayısı, 109-26
View in Google Scholar
Patterson T.C., 1987, Tribes, Chiefdoms, and Kingdoms in the Inca Empire, [in:] Power Relations and State Formation, T.C. Patterson, C.W. Gailey (eds.), American Anthropol. Assoc., Washington, pp. 121-31
View in Google Scholar
Phenice T.W., 1969, A newly developed visual method of sexing the os pubis, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 30, 297-302
View in Google Scholar
Roberts C., K. Manchester, 1995, The Archaeology of Disease, Cornell University Press, New York
View in Google Scholar
Romero J., 1970, Dental Mutilation, Trephination and Cranial Deformation, [in:] The Handbook of Middle American Indians, vol. 9, R. Wauchope (ed.), Univ. of Texas Press, Austin, pp. 50-67
View in Google Scholar
Ruffer M.A., 1918, Studies in palaeopathology: Some recent researches on prehistoric trephinning, J. Path. Bad., 22, 90-104
View in Google Scholar
Senyurek M.S., S. Tunakan, 1951, Seyh Hoyuk iskeletleri, Belleten, 15, 431-45
View in Google Scholar
Shevchenko A.V., 1986, Antropologia naselenija južno-russih stepej v epohu bronzy [Anthropology of the population of South Russian steppes during the Bronze Age], [in:] Antropologia sovremennogo i drevnego naselenia Evropeiskoi časti SSSR [Anthropology of the modern and ancient populations of the European part of the USSR], Leningrad, Science, pp. 121-215
View in Google Scholar
Ter-Markaryan S., 1991, Kumairi tangarani Vardbakh dambaranadashti peghumner [Excavation of employees of Gumry museum at the ancient Vardbakh cemetery], [in:] Scientific session devoting to results of field archaeological researches in Republic of Armenia, G. Tiratsyan (ed.), Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Yerevan, pp. 79-80
View in Google Scholar
Ter-Markaryan S., I. Avagyan, 2000, "Sev Berd" hushardcani bnakatex ev dambaranadasht [Black Fortress site and cemetry], [in:] Shiraki patmamshakytayin dzarangytyn [Shirak's historical and cultural heritage], S. Hairapetya (ed.), Gyumri, Gitutyun, pp. 9-11
View in Google Scholar
Trinkaus E., 1983, The Shanidar Neandertals, Academic Press, New York
View in Google Scholar
Torres-Rouff C., 2002, Cranial Vault Modification and Ethnicity in Middle Horizon San Pedro de Atacama Chile, Curr. Anthropol., 43, 163-72
View in Google Scholar
Ubelaker D., 1989, Human skeletal remains. Excavation, analysis, interpretation, Taraxacum, Washington
View in Google Scholar
Wells C., 1964, Bones, bodies and disease, Thames and Hudson, London
View in Google Scholar
Winkler E.-M., J. Jungwirth, 1978, Ein Kinderskelett mit deformiertem Schädel aus Schiltern in Niederösterreich. Zur Geschichte und Technik der künstlichen Schädeldeformierung in Österreich, Fundber. aus Österr., 17, 197-209
View in Google Scholar
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
