This talk explores the history of the surgical procedure known as trephination, trepanation, or trepanning - the removal of bone from the skull - and it's role in medicine and magic. From techniques to tools to its use as a way to treat possession of the soul, this talk will cover the fascinating story behind this type of surgery with examples from the Duckworth Laboratory, the human remains collections curated at the University of Cambridge. Please be aware, this talk will contain images of human remains. 

About our speaker

Dr Trish Biers curates the Duckworth Laboratory (human and non-human primate remains) in the Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge. She teaches in the department about ethics, repatriation, treatment of the dead, and osteoarchaeology. Her research focuses on the ethical curation of human remains and considerations for displaying the dead in museums and heritage sites as well as memento mori art, body modification and ancient disease. She also teaches an online course about the archaeology and anthropology of death and burial at the Institute of Continuing Education, University of Cambridge.