![Discovery of Ancient Egyptian Skulls Shows Evidence of Early Cancer Treatment Attempts : ScienceAlert 2 skull 236 1](https://i0.wp.com/theubj.com/uae/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/skull-236-1.jpg?w=1170)
Medical prowess in ancient Egypt was advanced and sophisticated, and modern scholars continue to unravel the Egyptians’ medical knowledge, which spans back thousands of years.
Yet, even with their advanced understanding, Egyptians faced challenges in treating some ailments, such as cancer—a complex disease that remains difficult to treat to this day.
Recently, researchers examining two skulls from the University of Cambridge’s Duckworth Collection found evidence of cancer as well as signs of early medical intervention.
“This finding provides a unique glimpse into how ancient Egyptian medicine attempted to manage cancer over 4,000 years ago,” explains paleopathologist Edgard Camarós from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. “It sheds new light on our understanding of the history of medicine.”
Both skulls show indications of cancer, but microscopic and CT scan analyses reveal distinctly different histories.
![Discovery of Ancient Egyptian Skulls Shows Evidence of Early Cancer Treatment Attempts : ScienceAlert 3 skull 236](https://i0.wp.com/theubj.com/uae/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/skull-236.jpg?resize=642%2C906)
Skull 236 comes from a male from ancient Egypt who died in his 30s between 2687 and 2345 BCE. His skull has about 30 marks consistent with metastatic carcinoma. A distinct large lesion, akin to a coin-sized hollow, can be seen on the crown of the skull.
Upon closer observation, researchers found cut marks along the edges of the lesions, suggesting an ancient attempt at surgical removal of the nodules, likely related to the cancer and performed close to the time of death.
![Discovery of Ancient Egyptian Skulls Shows Evidence of Early Cancer Treatment Attempts : ScienceAlert 4 cut marks](https://i0.wp.com/theubj.com/uae/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cut-marks.jpg?resize=642%2C482)
“The techniques suggest ancient Egyptians engaged in surgical intervention related to cancer presence,” notes orthopedic surgeon Albert Isidro, revealing their attempt at experimental treatments or explorations into cancer treatment.
Skull E270, associated with a woman over 50 years old from between 663 and 343 BCE, also tells a fascinating tale with a substantial top-skull lesion that could point to conditions like osteosarcoma or meningioma.
What sets this skull apart are the healed injuries from both sharp and blunt force trauma, suggesting a survival from violent impacts, potentially from conflict—raising questions about the societal roles of women in military actions during that time.
![Discovery of Ancient Egyptian Skulls Shows Evidence of Early Cancer Treatment Attempts : ScienceAlert 5 skull 270](https://i0.wp.com/theubj.com/uae/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/skull-270.jpg?resize=642%2C942)
Although direct treatment for the female skull’s cancerous lesion cannot be confirmed, the healed traumas are indicative of some form of medical attention.
The causes of death for both individuals may not be conclusively connected to cancer, but the state of the lesions suggests it played a role. “Ancient Egyptians were adept at handling complex cranial fractures, but cancer remained a boundary of medical knowledge,” adds Tondini.
The findings have been documented in the journal Frontiers in Medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What time periods do the two skulls date back to?
Skull 236 dates back to anywhere between 2687 and 2345 BCE while Skull E270 is from a period between 663 and 343 BCE.
What kinds of injuries or lesions were found on the skulls?
Skull 236 shows numerous lesions associated with metastatic carcinoma. Specifically, there are tiny cut marks around these lesions. Skull E270 reveals a large cancerous lesion and two healed wounds from sharp and blunt force trauma.
Only Skull 236 shows clear evidence of attempted treatment with cut marks presumably made by surgical interventions close to the time of death. There is no confirmed treatment for the cancerous lesion on Skull E270.
Do these findings suggest that ancient Egyptian medicine was advanced?
Yes, these skulls and the possible treatments they underwent indicate that ancient Egyptians had a sophisticated level of medical knowledge and were capable of complex medical procedures, even experimenting with treating cancer.
Where can one find more information on this research?
The study and its findings are published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine. The specific article detailing this research can be found by accessing the provided hyperlink.