Archaeologists exploring a hilltop settlement in Mazovia, Poland have uncovered what may be one of the rarest surgical instruments from the Celtic world: an iron trepanation tool used for drilling into human skulls. The discovery at the Łysa Góra archaeological site offers extraordinary evidence that Celtic groups traveling through ancient Poland carried with them not just warriors and craftsmen, but medical specialists capable of performing complex brain surgery over 2,000 years ago.
The find, announced by researchers from the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw working alongside the University of Warsaw's Faculty of Archaeology, has been described as even more significant than the site's previously discovered 4th-century BC Celtic helmet, reports Science in Poland. Dr. Bartłomiej Kaczyński, who leads the excavation team, explained that such surgical instruments are known from only a handful of Celtic sites across southern and central Europe, including locations in Romania, Croatia, and Austria. Finding one in Poland represents an extraordinary rarity that challenges our understanding of Celtic migration patterns and medical knowledge.
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Iron surgical tool discovered at the Łysa Góra archaeological site, in Mazovia, Poland. 4th-3rd century BC. (Dr. Bartłomiej Kaczyński/PAP)
A Medical Mystery Solved Through Ancient Literature
When researchers first extracted the corroded iron object from the earth during the spring excavation season, its purpose remained unclear. The artifact appeared to be some form of specialized tool, but without proper context, its function was a mystery. Detailed examination and consultation of specialist archaeological literature eventually revealed the truth: the team had discovered a type of surgical scalpel used specifically for trepanation procedures.
The tool features a distinctive design, with a sharp blade on one side that transitions into a pointed spike where a wooden handle would have been mounted. This configuration allowed ancient surgeons to both cut and drill through the skull bone, a procedure that modern archaeological evidence suggests was surprisingly common in Celtic territories. According to Heritage Daily, such instruments were essential equipment for what may have been druids or specialized healers who combined herbal medicine with surgical intervention.
Celtic Mandala Artwork from the Ancient Origins Store.
Celtic Specialists on the Move
The presence of this sophisticated medical instrument suggests that the Celtic group passing through Łysa Góra was no ordinary traveling band. Dr. Kaczyński believes the community included individuals with specialized knowledge and skills, possibly including a druid who practiced both herbal healing and possessed surgical tools.
"This group that passed through here, probably along a trade route, together with the helmet discovered last year and other La Tène artifacts, also had a specialist in contemporary medicine," he noted in his interview with Science in Poland.
However, Dr. Kaczyński adds a note of caution about romanticizing these ancient procedures. While the tools themselves demonstrate technical sophistication, it remains uncertain how effective the surgeries actually were. "It probably had more magical symbolism than it was a source of real help," he suggested, acknowledging that without modern understanding of infection, anesthesia, or anatomy, many trepanation procedures likely combined medical intent with spiritual ritual.
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Fortification traces discovered in the excavation profile at Łysa Góra. (Dr. Bartłomiej Kaczyński/PAP)
An Iron Age Industrial Center
The trepanation tool wasn't the only remarkable discovery from this season's excavations. In the northeastern section of the site, researchers uncovered compelling evidence of iron production, including cup-shaped slag residues and a small iron anvil used for metalworking. These finds indicate that the settlement at Łysa Góra functioned as more than just a temporary camp - it was a place where specialized craftwork took place.
"It looks like a block mounted on a stump," Dr. Kaczyński described the anvil. "Small tools were worked on it with a blacksmith's hammer. This indicates that some of the iron objects we discovered at Łysa Góra, rather small ones, could have been produced here on site." This evidence suggests the Celtic group included not just medical specialists but also skilled blacksmiths who could forge tools and weapons in their distinctive La Tène style, the hallmark of Iron Age Europe.
The bowl-shaped piece of slag is evidence of iron smelting. (Dr. Bartłomiej Kaczyński/PAP)
The excavation also yielded numerous other artifacts of Celtic origin, including brooches, a spearhead, an iron axe-chisel, and many small objects associated with horse harnesses such as buckles and straps for bridles. These discoveries paint a picture of a well-equipped and diverse community that possessed the resources and knowledge necessary for extended travel and temporary settlement.
Fortifications Reveal Settlement Hierarchy
Analysis of the defensive structures at Łysa Góra has revealed intriguing details about how the settlement was organized. The southern portion of the hilltop featured substantially different fortifications compared to the northern section, suggesting a deliberate division of space. The southern elevation, which researchers believe housed the main residential and social activities of the community, was protected by a substantial palisade and ditch system—a formidable defense against both human threats and dangerous wildlife.
In contrast, the northern portion had only basic fencing, likely sufficient for keeping out wild animals but not designed to withstand military assault. This architectural distinction suggests that the settlement's inhabitants recognized differing levels of threat and value across their occupied territory, concentrating their defensive efforts where they mattered most.
The Łysa Góra site was first investigated during the 1970s and 1980s, but archaeologists returned in 2024 with modern methods and new objectives. The current excavation project aims to preserve the site while creating an educational pathway where visitors can view artifacts and learn about the Celtic presence in Poland. After two seasons of intensive work, Dr. Kaczyński and his team are now preparing to open this interpretive trail to the public, complete with informational panels explaining the site's remarkable history and the diverse community that once called it home.
The trepanation tool stands as a testament to the surprising sophistication of ancient Celtic medicine. While we may never know exactly how successful these early surgeons were in their procedures, the very existence of specialized surgical instruments demonstrates that Celtic healers approached medical problems with both practical tools and systematic methods. This small iron implement, corroded by centuries underground, represents a moment when the ancient art of healing met the harsh realities of life on the frontiers of the Celtic world.
Top image: The Łysa Góra archaeological site, Mazovia, Poland with insert the Celtic skull trepanation tool. Source: State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw/PAP
By Gary Manners
References
Kaczyński, B. 2025. Mazowieckie: Celtyckie narzędzie do trepanacji czaszki odkryte na Łysej Górze. Available at: https://naukawpolsce.pl/aktualnosci/news%2C110123%2Cmazowsze-celtyckie-narzedzie-do-trepanacji-czaszki-odkryte-na-lysej-gorze
Milligan, M. 2025. Celtic skull trepanation tool discovered in Mazovia. Available at: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/10/celtic-skull-trepanation-tool-discovered-in-mazovia/156223
