L’Egypt ancient, a civilization that still fascinates us with its advancement, was particularly advanced in many fields, notably in architecture, mathematics and astronomy. What is less known is that the Egyptians also excelled in the medical field. Their refined and sophisticated medical knowledge and techniques demonstrate a deep desire to understand and cure bodily illnesses. Their efforts to treat complex conditions like cancer exemplify this quest for medical excellence, long before modern science provided the tools and knowledge we have today.
Recently, researchers from the University of Tübingen and of Cambridge published in the journal *Frontiers in Medicine* a revealing study based on the analysis of ancient skulls. These artifacts, discovered in an Egyptian necropolis, provided surprising evidence of attempts to surgically treat cancer ago 4000 years. One skull, in particular, had cut marks around cancerous lesions, suggesting primitive but remarkably precise surgical procedures for the time.
These incisions, observed on the skull of a man who lived between 2687 and 2345 BCE, reveal an attempt to surgically remove metastasized tumors. The clear markings indicate the use of metal instruments, a technical feat for the time that demonstrates an advanced understanding of the need to remove diseased tissue, although these procedures were likely performed shortly before the patient’s death or even post-mortem.
The discovery of a second skull, that of a woman who lived between 663 And 343 BCE, also reveals aspects of Egyptian medicine and their approach to community care. This skull shows not only a major lesion, probably cancerous, but also traces of healed fractures, testifying to the violence suffered and the advanced medical care that followed. These elements indicate a high level of medical care and a probable involvement of women in active roles during the conflicts of the time.
These analyzes show that despite advanced medical knowledge, documented by texts such as the Ebers Papyrus, which deals with more than 700 cures for various illnesses, cancer remained a difficult disease to control. The medical practices of the time, although rudimentary by our current standards, reflect a desire to push the boundaries of medicine of the time.
Finally, these discoveries offer insight not only into ancient Egyptian medical skills but also into their social structure. The case of the female skull shows careful and prolonged medical care, probably made possible by a collective effort. This underlines the importance given to the well-being and survival of the members of the community, a characteristic trait which highlights the human and united dimension of this ancient civilization.
