Dyke–Davidoff–Masson syndrome in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages Armenia—a cause of trepanation?

Abstract

Intentionally opened skulls are considered to be the most fascinating of palaeopathological findings. This paper regards the discovery of a new trepanated skull dating from the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages (1500–1400 BC) found at a burial site of Bardzryal, Armenia. Attention was first paid to trepanation technique, second—the description of methods of trepanations, third—to surgical procedures, and finally, to the cause of trepanation. The remains were examined by standard macromorphological and X‐ray methods of bioarchaeology. Bone nodules resulting from Dyke–Davidoff–Masson syndrome (DDMS) were observed on the endocranial surface of the frontal bone of a female. Regardless of provenance DDMS, which seems to be a possible cause of trepanation in women, is rarely seen in historic populations. Along with DDMS, porotic hyperostosis and osteomas were also observed. This observation constituted the first evidence of DDMS in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age Armenia.

Presentation of Dyke-Davidoff-Masson Syndrome in a 32-Year-Old Female: Report of a Rare Case With a Literature Review

“…A recent study conducted in 2018 revealed the discovery of a trepanated skull from the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages (fifteenth-century BC), found at a burial site in Bardzryal, Armenia. Of note, there was the presence of bone nodules on the endocranial surface of the skull, raising suspicion that the skull belonged to a patient with DDMS [4]. However, the first case of DDMS was first clinically reported in 1933 by Dyke, Davidoff, and Masson when they described cranial asymmetry in a series of nine patients with cerebral hemiatrophy, facial asymmetry, mental retardation, and seizures.…”

Cranial Trepanations of Armenian Population in the Second-First Millennium Bc

“…Прямоугольные отверстия путем пересекающихся надрезов кости были зафиксиро ваны у погребенных из могильников Багери чала (Лорийская провинция) [Khudaverdyan, 2016], Чавлум и Икизтепе (Анатолия) [Erdal, Erdal, 2011]. Отверстие выполнялось с по мощью ножа, сделанного из вулканического стекла (обсидиана), кремния или металла (рис.…”