ABSTRACT
Studies of ancient trepanned skulls have long attracted investigators because of their mystery. These studies can be undertaken within the framework of different sciences. For instance, palaeopathologists provide analysis of apertures with traces of healing and describe various traumatic conditions. Unfortunately, many palaeopathological works did not place skeletal finds within a historical context. Only the geographical place of a find and the approximate date were of traditional interest for palaeopathologists, although other details are also useful. For example, it is important to look at burial rite features when interpreting trepanning cases. And archaeologists want information about ancient cults of different parts about a body. Included are skull cults, distribution of after-death masks, embalming and mummification traditions, the treatment of defeated enemies, neutralisation of buried spirits, decapitation, and scalping. So, on the one hand, there is the need to describe apertures in human skulls formed as a result of external influences, and on the other hand, there is the need to know the historical context of the skeletal finds, interlacing
of ancient cultures, migration of the peoples, distribution of religions and ideas, war and colonisation of new countries, and so forth.
