What if It All Began with a Broken Bone? Paleolithic Reflections on the Origins of Medical Care and Traumatology

Abstract

Fractures represent one of the earliest tangible traces of medical care in prehistory. Osteological evidence from Paleolithic sites such as Shanidar (Iraq) and Krapina (Croatia) shows that individuals with severe injuries survived thanks to sustained, collective care. These healed fractures reflect not only biological responses and rudimentary immobilization practices, but also social behaviors involving support and task redistribution. This article argues that traumatology, understood as a response to visible bodily trauma, may have constituted the earliest form of organized medical practice. In an era of increasing specialization, revisiting this ethical and communal foundation reminds us that orthopedic care remains, at its core, a deliberate act of supporting and caring for others.