Bartłomiej Kaczyński
The discovery gives a new perspective on the scope and sophistication of medicine in ancient Europe.
Archaeologists in Poland have discovered a rare iron tool believed to have been used by Celtic healers to perform cranial surgeries more than 2,300 years ago — a discovery that sheds new light on the scope and sophistication of medicine in ancient Europe.
The hand instrument was unearthed at Łysa Góra, a Celtic site in the Masovian region. According to Bartłomiej Kaczyński, an archaeologist at the Warsaw State Archaeological Museum, the tool’s refined finish and metallurgical style point to Celtic origins. It was probably used for trephination, which was an early form of cranial surgery in which part of the skull was drilled or shaved to treat head injuries or relieve pressure.
Derived from the Greek word for “piercing,” trepanation is one of humanity’s oldest surgical practices, documented in numerous ancient cultures from Spain to Israel to Bolivia. Among the Celts, Kaczyński noted, the procedure probably had a both medical and ritualistic significancealthough no skeletal evidence of trepanned individuals was found at Łysa Góra.
The discovery is especially notable because the archaeological site marks the northeasternmost Celtic settlement ever found in Europe, far from the traditional centers of civilization in Central and Western Europe. Archaeologists have been excavating Łysa Góra for two years, giving continuity to previous excavations from the 1970s, and discovered hundreds of artefacts that reveal a vibrant and strategically located community, reveals the .
In 2024, researchers found a rare bronze Celtic helmet, and this year’s excavations revealed brooches, a spearhead, an iron ax and various objects related to horse riding. The trepanning tool, with a blade that tapers to a point and was previously attached to a wooden handle, is considered even rarer than the helmet.
Kaczyński considers that the presence of the tool suggests that the settlement included individuals with specialized medical or ritual knowledge, as well as skilled blacksmiths capable of producing surgical instruments.
Evidence of bronze and iron metallurgy, imported goods, and fragments of bronze and amber indicate that Łysa Góra served as an important trading center, probably located along the ancient “amber route” that linked the Baltic and Mediterranean worlds.
“This discovery helps us understand not only Celtic craftsmanship, but also the your medical expertise and the extent of its influence,” said Kaczyński.
