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Experts from a US museum believe it could be one of the oldest examples of advanced surgery. The Museum of Osteology in Oklahoma said the skull is reported to have been that of a man who was injured in battle before undergoing surgery to implant a piece of metal in his head to repair a fracture.
That's metal π€
Literally
We, the "modern humans", would do so many mental gymnastics but to accept the apparent fact that "ancient humans" were in no way less smarter than us.
In reality intelligence was about the same, just less existing knowledge to stand on.
It's not individual intelligence, it's access to knowledge.
Every big leap forward in human society has been about how far/fast ideas can be exchanged.
When that happens, suddenly all types of other advancements happen and then slow down over time till the next leap in communication.
The biggest thing humans have going for us, is it only takes one human to figure something out these days.
Standing on the shoulders of giants.
Actually the opposite.
All those famous early scientists were just the only ones with access to libraries or even the ability to read back then.
They figured a bunch of shit out, but it's because they were the only ones with the time and resources to sit around and bounce ideas off each other.
If you only educate like 0.01% of the population, you shouldn't be surprised when that who comes up with innovation.
But your odds are better if you educate everyone, and then throw the smartest together. Rather than just hoping the rich upper class has a couple smart people this generation.
I would argue that intelligence is different than exploration. We now have amassed so much recordable knowledge across so many disciplines. In the past those that remembered this knowledge correctly or where to find it were the intelligent ones. Now it's how we use it. It's a drastic pivot point in human history and the computer is the center piece.
Tough to say what existing knowledge there was after the Spaniards saved them.
"saved"
Is there more info?
My first thought is why did they discount the idea from movies of someone being executed painfully by having molten metal poured on their head?
They discounted the idea because
Surprising as it may seem, the patient survived the procedure, as evidenced by the fact that bone surrounding it fused together.
This rarely happens when they pour molten metal on the head, according to medical experts.
(source: Snopes)
I am not a medical expert but I concur that having molten metal poured over your head and having signs of healing would have very little correlation
Go stay at a Holliday Inn and tell us what you think the following morning.
Thanks for the link, it also answered my question about the shape of the skull.
Yes, this is a real human skull that is thousands of years old. Elongation was achieved through head binding beginning at a very young age. It was typically practiced to convey social status by various cultures.
Couldnβt they have cast it and put the patch in after it cooled?
Thanks! I wasn't seriously considering that it may have happened, just reminded me of movies (as I mentioned) and was keen to read more as no source was linked.
I'm no expert, but my first thought is, molten metal is so hot it would probably do more damage than it would fix. Also, the shape is quite neat/precise, rarely the case when pouring a liquid on a curved surface. There doesn't seem to be any pooling in the cracks and depressions. The edges are very clean.
Furthermore, and to me, most convincingly, it looks like it's been hammered. There are no bubbles, thickness looks regular, the surface looks like it has been worked on, there are even what seem to be folds, to adapt the shape to the wound.
The bones have fused back together, which shows that there was healing, which takes time. So that indicates that the person survived the wound (and the procedure).
So that's what I would guess based on those photos.
I'm very impressed it worked. Look at the wound. Someone seems to have had their skull crushed in by a big blunt object, rock or hammer or whatever. I wouldn't really expect anyone to survive that, even with modern medical abilities.
Edit : I think I sort of misread your question. But either way, the info above still stands.
I would add, re: the execution idea. In most early civilizations, metal is a rare resource. Why waste it one someone you want to kill?
Looks like it covers the damaged part of the skull, for one. If it was for execution it is unlikely it'd just cover that spot. It's not exactly a lot if you're just trying to execute someone. Not that I'd want any amount poured on me.
Have you not heard of HIPAA?
I guess it might have gotten lost in translation.
If it was molten metal, wouldn't the bone have signs of heat damage?
Thatβs what she said π
yeah lol me too. but I think it looks like it is just cold forged
Imagine living through getting your head smashed in as well as having it pieced back together and fixed with a chunk of crudely shaped metal. I hope they had some good drugs.
Imagine if it was melted metal poured on his head to give it shape. π
Thatβs metal
We have the technology
It's no one bothered by the fact his skull is massive? And before you say they elongated his skull with ropes, go and check more recent procedures, the skull thines on the top, like a cone head.
This guy skull was ancient aliens big, because I doubt that was a warrior with macrocephaly.
He's the first Hell's Angel.
I wasnβt aware there was any metalworking going on that long ago in South America.. interesting