Trepanation: Headache? Just drill a hole in your head!

This is one of the oldest surgical procedures in human history (dating back to the Neolithic era): Drilling a hole directly into the skull: When patients suffered from headaches, epilepsy, mental disorders, or strokes, ancient shamans or doctors would use sharp stone tools or metal drills to bore a large circular hole directly into the patient's skull while they were fully conscious (without anesthesia). Expelling evil spirits: People at the time believed that headaches were caused by evil spirits or bad energy trapped in the brain, and that drilling a hole in the skull would allow these spirits to escape. Most incredibly, archaeologists have found that many ancient victims actually survived after having their skulls drilled (indicated by signs of bone healing and regrowth), demonstrating a terrifyingly tenacious will to live!