Posted on 08/10/2010 7:59:47 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
A piece of obsidian (volcanic glass) dating back 4,000 years and believed to have been used as a scalpel for surgery has been unearthed during excavations carried out in the Black Sea province of Samsun.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Professor Önder Bilgi, the chairman of the excavations, said that the work in the ruins of the Ekiztepe village in Samsun's Bafra district had begun in 1974.
"During this year's excavations, which started July 15, we discovered a piece of obsidian that was used as a scalpel in surgeries. Obsidian beds are generally situated in the Central Anatolian region of Cappadocia. We think obsidian was brought to this region through trade," Bilgi said. "As this stone is very sharp and hygienic, it was [likely] used as a scalpel in brain surgeries. Glass scalpels are still available."
The excavations have also revealed that there was continuous settlement in the region between 4000 B.C. and 1700 B.C.
Weapons, devices, ovens and ornaments were unearthed separately during the excavations, showing that the inhabitants of the Ekiztepe region played an important role in the development of mining in Anatolia.
Some of the findings discovered in the excavations are being displayed at the Samsun Archaeology Museum.
(Excerpt) Read more at hurriyetdailynews.com ...
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how do they know what it was used for?
Believe me, that stuff is seriously sharp.
I found a few chipping grounds in the Mohave desert
Prolly found evidence of a few lost patients.
The Aztecs used it to slice open chest cavities - it's supposed to be sharper than surgical steel.
It is, but the edge is delicate and brittle.
It breaks easily.
That’s what I always wonder. Archeologists and such often throw out these wild assertions and speculation without providing any rationale or evidence to show how they reached such a conclusion.
.
I get the impression a lot that these guys are just winging it or engaging in wishful thinking to get attention (i.e., more funding).
I have a few pieces right here.
Amazingly sharp.
I do woodcarving and sharpen my own knives.
I can but a razor edge on there like no ones business, but Obsidian is much sharper. But it is very delicate.
I have used it as a tool.
Sounds like a bad place to take a knap..
Hardee Har Har!
Try the veal...
I guess NASA needs to tell muslimes that they invented surgery so they feel better about themselves. What? This piece was made 4600 years before Satan spawned islam through mohammed? Never mind.
Obviously, it was for brain surgery. And gutting fish.
I pick up obsidian nodules and any points or tools I find. We skinned our last elk mostly using rough obsidian tools. Rough because I am not a good knapper. I would break off a piece, hand it to my little boy or wife, and they would start skinning. Amazingly sharp.
A piece of obsidian (volcanic glass) dating back 4,000 years and believed to have been used as a scalpel for surgery has been unearthed during excavations carried out in the Black Sea province of Samsun.
Big deal.
I'm pretty sure that the Dr who performed my Laminectomy in 1980 used a piece of Obsidian.
[needless to say it didn't go swimmingly.]
I am absolutely certain that they performed surgery to remove the brains of their contemporary democrats. Now if we could just figure out who’s doing those same surgeries now we could get this country turned back around.
:’)
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