A new research by a Greek anthropologist of the diaspora, which took place in Paliokastro on the island of Thassos, brought to light, among other discoveries, a skull from the early Byzantine period (between the fourth and seventh centuries AD). The skull bears traces of surgery, which is "incredibly complex " according to him.
The discovery was made by researchers at Adelphi University in New York, led by anthropology professor Anagnostis Angelarakis. In total, bones from ten skeletons of four women and six men were found and studied, probably of high social status, based on the location and architecture of the burial site.
"According to their skeletal-anatomical characteristics, both men and women led physically demanding lives. The very serious injuries sustained by both men and women had been treated surgically or orthopedically by some highly experienced physician/ a surgeon with extensive experience in wound care. We believe he was a military doctor." , said Dr. Aggelarakis, according to a statement from his university.
Especially for the brain surgery, Mr. Angelarakis estimates that "even despite the ominous prognosis, an extensive effort was made on this particular man. It was therefore likely that he was a very important person among the population of Paliokastro".
Perhaps the reason for the surgery was an infection, and the male archer appears to have died shortly after or during the doctor's attempt to save him.
"The surgery is the most complex I've ever seen in my 40 years of doing anthropological research. It's incredible that it took place in a time before the discovery of antibiotics" , as said by Mr. Angelarakis, who presents the findings in detail in a new book from Archaeopress publications ('Eastern Roman Mounted Archers and Extraordinary Medico-Surgical Interventions at Paliokastro in Thasos Island during the ProtoByzantine Period).
A. Angelarakis studied classical archeology and European ethnology at Lund University in Sweden, he did a master's degree in anthropology at Columbia University in New York, from where he received his doctorate in 1989 in physical anthropology and archaeology.