TREPANATION – A CENTURY OF RESEARCH IN SERBIA

Abstract

As a multi-faceted phenomenon, trepanation (or trepanning) received significant research attention in ethnology and anthropology in Serbia. During the course of 20th century, a number of research papers concerning the phenomenon of trepanation among the population in Serbia at the turn of the centuries were published, which is a unique case in Europe. On the other hand, trepanned sculls from archaeological sites – dating from Copper Age to medieval times – were also revealed to the public.

The analytical overview of the previous century in terms of research on trepanation in Serbia reveals that, in its first half, it was primarily concerned with results of studies conducted on living population, while in its latter half – following archaeological excavations – it was focused on research and publication of skeletal remains.

This paper offers a brief summary – first of its kind – of the anthropological research on trepanation in Serbia. This research has undisputedly yielded some very significant results. However, with the revision of these results, new excavations, and following methodological and laboratory additions, we can certainly expect new findings in the future.