Cutmarks on a 4,000-year-old Egyptian skull suggest that ancient physicians may have attempted to treat or explore cancer, according to a new study. The findings, published by an international team of researchers, provide what they describe as 'extraordinary' evidence of early medical intervention for the disease.
The team examined two skulls from the University of Cambridge's Duckworth Collection. One skull, dating from between 2687 and 2345 BC, belonged to a man aged 30 to 35. It showed a large lesion consistent with a cancerous tumour, surrounded by about 30 smaller metastasised lesions. Microscopic analysis revealed cutmarks around these lesions, likely made with a sharp metal instrument.
Study co-author Professor Edgard Camarós, from the University of Santiago de Compostela, said: 'This finding is unique evidence of how ancient Egyptian medicine would have tried to deal with or explore cancer more than 4,000 years ago.' The researchers believe this may represent an early attempt at surgical treatment or a post-mortem examination to understand the disease.
The second skull, dating from between 663 and 343 BC, belonged to a woman over 50. It also showed a large cancerous lesion, as well as two healed traumatic injuries, one of which appeared to be from a close-range violent encounter with a sharp weapon. The healed wounds suggest she may have received treatment and survived, challenging assumptions about women's involvement in ancient conflicts.
Lead author Dr Tatiana Tondini, from the University of Tübingen, said: 'We see that although ancient Egyptians were able to deal with complex cranial fractures, cancer was still a medical knowledge frontier.' The study highlights the advanced medical skills of ancient Egyptians, who could diagnose and treat various conditions, but cancer remained a challenge.
The researchers caution that studying skeletal remains has limitations, as remains are often incomplete and clinical histories unknown. However, they say the findings open new avenues for research into the history of cancer and ancient medicine.
