Researchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK have recently discovered new details about two ancient Egyptian skulls that have been part of their collection for decades.
The skulls, preserved in the museum archive, had been studied in the past, but it was only now that tiny cut marks were detected on them. These marks could suggest the use of advanced medical practices in ancient Egypt, including possible attempts to treat cancer.
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Skulls with marking indicating surgery discovered in Egypt
(Photo: (Tondini et al., Front. Med., 2024))
Using high-resolution 3D microscopy, the researchers re-examined the skulls and found extremely delicate cuts around tumors present in the bones. This discovery may suggest that the ancient Egyptians not only identified cancerous tumors but also attempted to surgically remove them.
The ancient Egyptian civilization lasted for more than 3,000 years until the Roman conquest in 30 BCE. It contributed to the world not only the pyramids and hieroglyphic writing but also extensive and advanced medical knowledge, some of which has been documented in descriptions of surgeries and the use of medicinal plants, knowledge of which has been preserved in medical texts such as the Ebers Papyrus.
Until now, it was believed that their medical capabilities were primarily focused on treating injuries and infectious diseases, as well as the sophisticated mummification and tissue preservation processes that became hallmarks of their culture.
Cancer in the ancient world
Until now, researchers believed that cancerous tumors were a relatively rare phenomenon in ancient times, primarily due to the shorter life expectancy and the absence of many carcinogenic factors common today.
However, recent findings challenge this perception, suggesting that cancer may have been more prevalent than previously thought. The findings raise the possibility that doctors in ancient Egypt not only successfully identified the disease but also attempted various treatments, including surgical removal of tumors.
However, it is by no means certain that the cuts found on the skulls were made as part of medical treatment before death. Some researchers argue that these marks might have resulted from post-mortem examinations, rather than surgical attempts to treat cancer. If this interpretation is correct, it opens up an entirely new frontier of inquiry in science and anthropology.
Due to the lack of definitive written evidence about such practices in ancient Egypt, the precise interpretation of these findings remains a topic of debate among researchers. What is clear, however, is that the ancient Egyptians had a much deeper understanding of the human body than previously believed.
This discovery broadens our knowledge of the history of medicine and raises questions about how human cultures addressed diseases throughout history. For example, how did ancient societies confront illnesses such as cancer? Did they understand its effects on the body? What treatment methods did they develop to address such conditions?
The findings suggest that ancient Egyptians may have employed advanced methods for their time to address cancer, challenging the notion that cancer was rare in the ancient world. This research invites further exploration of medical treatments in the past and the ways ancient cultures sought to address diseases.