Human skull showing different methods of trephination, Canary Islands, 1871-1930
- Made:
- 1871-1930 in Canary Islands
Human skull illustrating different methods of trephination owned by Dr. T. Wilson Parry, skull of Guanche, Canary Islands, 1871-1930 (approx)
This skull shows four different instruments used for trephination. The instruments include a shark’s tooth, a flint-pointed bow drill, a flint scraper and obsidian – a naturally occurring volcanic glass. Each instrument makes a different type and size of hole. This skull was owned by Dr Thomas Wilson Parry (1866-1945), an English doctor who did extensive practical research into Neolithic trephination instruments and techniques.
Details
- Category:
- Surgery
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A652218
- Measurements:
-
overall: 150 mm x 136 mm x 220 mm, .65kg
shrak's tooth hole: 45 mm,
flint scraper hole: 21 mm,
flint pointed hole: 56 mm,
obsidian hole: 16 mm,
- type:
- human remains, skull and trephination
- credit:
- Wellcome Trust
