(ORDO NEWS) — The Museum of Osteology in Oklahoma, USA, published photographs of a skull with a metal implant in 2020 and 2021.
According to the museum staff, the skull is “thousands of years old”. But what is it? Proof of one of the earliest surgical implants or a modern fake? Here’s what the scientists say.
While researchers are afraid to make loud statements
In 2020 and 2021, the Oklahoma Museum of Osteology published photographs of an ancient skull found in Peru with a feature that surprised many.
The age of the find is not precisely determined: the Museum staff estimate it to be “thousands of years old”. A metal implant was inserted into the skull, used to heal the wound. According to the museum, this man was a warrior and was injured in battle.
Researchers are divided into two camps: some believe that the implant is real, while others argue that it is a modern fake.
According to National Geographic , such surgical procedures were relatively common in present-day Peru, as the main weapons at the time were stones and clubs.
These weapons often resulted in serious head injuries. According to Tulane University anthropologist John Verano, the survival rate was surprisingly high, around 70 percent.
Verano commented on the Museum of Osteology image for Live Science , stating that the particular skull is a modern fake.
“In a nutshell, I think it’s something fabricated to make the skull a more valuable collectible, ” Verano said.
Other researchers do not exclude the authenticity of the implant, but are afraid to make loud statements.
“Based on the nature of the fracture, this man – who appears to be an elderly man – suffered a massive blunt trauma to the right side of his head.
The fact that the radial and concentric fracture lines show signs of healing suggests that this person has lived with the implant for at least a few weeks to months,” UCLA anthropology professor Daniel Kurin told Live Science.
In general, researchers agree that tests must be carried out to disprove or prove the authenticity of turtles. However, when these tests will be carried out is unclear.
—
Online:
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.