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It’s easy to dismiss ancient civilizations as less advanced, particularly in the field of medicine. However, recent archaeological findings have uncovered fascinating truths about early health care. While some practices align with our assumptions, others reveal remarkably advanced philosophies and techniques for their time.
10. The Egyptians Pioneered the First State-Run Health Care System
In terms of health care, ancient Egypt closely resembled modern developed nations. The village of Deir el-Medina, located in the mountains above the Valley of the Kings, provides written records and physical evidence of the earliest known state-run health care system.
Artisans with exceptional literacy and engineering expertise constructed the royal tombs for pharaohs under challenging conditions between 1292 and 1077 B.C., during the reigns of Ramses II and his successors. These workers left behind thousands of documents, ranging from personal letters to legal disputes.
The site was initially excavated in the early to mid-1900s, but the human remains were largely ignored due to the nascent state of osteology, the study of skeletons. In 2012, archaeologists revisited the site to analyze the remains more thoroughly. Their findings aligned with the written records, revealing that workers at Deir el-Medina were granted paid sick leave and access to free medical checkups at facilities akin to modern clinics. However, much like today’s workforce, these ancient employees often felt compelled to work despite illness. One mummy, for instance, showed evidence of a man laboring while suffering from osteomyelitis, a painful bone infection.
The skeletons indicate the physical strain of traversing between the Valley of the Kings and the mountain village. Yet, they also demonstrate that individuals with severe disabilities received exceptional care. For example, a young man around 20 years old had a deformed right leg, likely due to a neurological condition like polio. However, the absence of physical stress markers suggests he was assigned a less demanding role in society.
Families and friends were obligated to care for the elderly and infirm. Failure to do so resulted in public shaming through divorce or disinheritance. Lead researcher Anne Austin noted, “A woman named Naunakhte, who had eight children, reprimanded and disinherited four of them in her will for failing to care for her in her old age.”
9. Ancient Peru Pioneered the First Limb Surgery
Ancient healers employed a method known as trepanation, involving drilling, scraping, or sawing to create an opening in a living person’s skull. This procedure addressed head injuries and certain other conditions.
In 2004, researchers from the University of Central Florida discovered that shamans in the Chachapoya region of ancient Peru also applied trepanation techniques to patients’ lower legs at the Kuelap fortress. This marks the earliest recorded instance of trepanation being performed on a body part other than the skull.
The Chachapoya region was occupied from around 800 to 1535. Their shamans were highly skilled, successfully conducting intricate surgeries such as amputations that showed clear signs of healing. Regarding trepanation on legs, the remains of two otherwise healthy men in this area revealed holes drilled into their lower leg bones, likely to alleviate fluid accumulation caused by infected wounds. While less probable, it’s also possible that bone was extracted from these men while they were alive to craft amulets or pendants.
The first individual was an adult aged 30–34. A medical practitioner had drilled a series of holes into his tibia, or shinbone, the larger of the two bones connecting the knee to the ankle. The holes reached the center of the tibia, but there was no evidence of healing, suggesting the man likely died during the procedure. The second individual, a teenager, had two holes drilled into the middle of his shinbone, and he appears to have suffered the same fate as the first man.
While it seems both men died during the surgeries, another possibility is that these procedures were performed postmortem. A novice practitioner might have been honing their skills on deceased bodies.
8. Ancient Healers Also Addressed PTSD
Evidence now shows that ancient soldiers in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as early as 1300 B.C. Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University uncovered medical texts detailing how doctors attempted to diagnose and treat warriors from the Assyrian Dynasty who suffered from sleep disorders, flashbacks, and depression—symptoms strikingly similar to those reported by modern-day combat veterans.
“These ancient warriors described hearing and seeing ghosts of those they had killed in battle, a phenomenon that mirrors the experiences of contemporary soldiers engaged in close combat,” explained Jamie Hacker Hughes, director of Anglia Ruskin’s Veterans and Families Institute. He highlighted that the Mesopotamian battles occurred in the same regions as the recent Gulf and Iraq Wars.
Under the Assyrian Dynasty, men were obligated to fight every three years as part of their national service. They faced injuries and death from weapons like swords, slingstones, and arrows. Despite the differences in weaponry, the psychological toll—witnessing comrades’ deaths, fearing for their own lives, and more—triggered PTSD symptoms. Additionally, the lack of modern surgical techniques meant a higher likelihood of death from injuries.
In ancient times, PTSD symptoms were attributed to the ghosts or demons of slain enemies, believed to haunt surviving soldiers as divine punishment for their sins, resulting in a “wandering mind.” Treatments included medicinal remedies, religious rituals, and incantations aimed at driving away these malevolent spirits.
7. Ancient Medicine Chest Contains 2,000-Year-Old Eye Treatments
Typically, our understanding of ancient medicine is derived from texts unearthed at archaeological sites. However, these documents often lack the precision and detail necessary to fully grasp how ancient medical practices functioned. This is why the discovery of a medicine chest from a Roman shipwreck near Tuscany, dating back to around 120 B.C., sparked immense excitement among archaeologists.
Experts believe the ship, named Relitto del Pozzino, sank during a severe storm near Populonia, an ancient Etruscan city and a major Mediterranean shipping hub. Over the years, excavators have uncovered lamps, glassware, and other artifacts. However, the most intriguing find was the medical tools belonging to a Roman physician who may have been on board.
While the medicine chest itself was largely destroyed, a mortar, surgical hook, and bleeding cup were recovered. Additionally, archaeologists found 136 wooden drug vials and several sealed tin containers called pyxides, which held 2,000-year-old medicinal tablets. Remarkably, the round, green tablets were perfectly preserved, and modern analysis has identified their components.
“In archaeology, finding ancient medicines is exceptionally rare, as is understanding their chemical makeup,” stated researchers in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “The findings provided remarkable insights into the composition of the tablets and their potential medicinal applications.”
The tablets were composed of beeswax, starch, iron oxide, various zinc compounds, pine resin, and other materials derived from animals and plants. Based on their ingredients and form, researchers speculate they were used as an eyewash or a form of eye treatment in antiquity.
6. Ancient Wealthy Individuals Suffered from a Modern Poverty-Linked Disease
The Medicis, regarded as the “first family” of Italy during the Renaissance, were the wealthy rulers of Tuscany. However, their affluence did not protect their young children from rickets, a condition now commonly associated with poverty, particularly in polluted urban areas with limited sunlight. Ironically, the Medicis’ wealth likely contributed to their children developing this severe illness.
Rickets results from a vitamin D deficiency, which weakens children’s bones, leading to bowed legs as they attempt to walk on fragile bones. Arm bones may also curve, particularly if the child tries to crawl. In the 16th century, six out of nine Medici children studied were confirmed to have rickets. Five-year-old Filippo even exhibited a skull deformity caused by the condition.
Given their wealth, it would seem the Medicis could afford vitamin D-rich foods like cheese and eggs for their children. This initially puzzled researchers.
However, analysis of the children’s bone collagen revealed they weren’t weaned until age two. Breast milk is low in vitamin D, and the only supplements available at the time were soft bread cereals, which contain little vitamin D, and apples, which have none. Two newborns in the family also had rickets, indicating their mothers likely suffered from vitamin D deficiencies as well. Researchers suggest the mothers’ deficiencies may have resulted from frequent pregnancies or the use of heavy makeup that blocked sunlight.
The children’s high social status likely contributed to their rickets. Poor children of the time spent much of their time outdoors, while upper-class parents avoided letting their children tan, fearing they might resemble the lower class. Instead, wealthy children remained indoors, dressed in multiple layers, shielding them from the sunlight that could have prevented the disease.
5. Ancient Civilizations Knew the Benefits of Donkey Milk Long Before Us
In recent years, donkey milk has gained attention as a nutritious alternative for children allergic to certain proteins in cow’s milk. Many children also struggle with allergies to traditional substitutes like soy, goat’s, sheep’s, and even formula milk. Donkey milk, however, closely resembles human milk in composition.
Although clinical studies are still needed, some individuals with psoriasis, eczema, and asthma have reported remarkable improvements after consuming donkey milk or using soaps made from it. Even Pope Francis has shared that he was fed donkey milk as an infant.
The advantages of donkey milk are not new; they are a rediscovery of ancient wisdom. Hippocrates, known as the “father of medicine,” recommended donkey milk for various ailments, from nosebleeds to snakebites. Legend has it that Cleopatra bathed in it for its beauty benefits. The ancient Greeks fed it to their children, while the Romans used it to maintain soft skin.
However, one significant challenge remains: donkey milk is far more difficult to produce than cow’s milk. A cow has four teats and can yield around 10 liters (2.5 gallons) of milk daily, whereas a donkey has only two teats and produces about 1 liter (0.25 gallons) per day. Additionally, donkeys only lactate for about six months after giving birth and only if their foal is nearby.
4. Ancient Medical Records Inscribed on Bamboo Strips
During a construction project in Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan Province, workers unearthed 920 bamboo strips that served as medical texts for treating humans and horses around 2,000 years ago. These texts are linked to the teachings of Bian Que, a pioneering physician who emphasized diagnosing illnesses through pulse analysis and physical examinations. Bamboo strips were commonly used for writing during that era.
Bian Que is a revered figure in Chinese medical history, known for pioneering anesthesia and performing the world’s first organ transplant. The 920 bamboo strips include 184 dedicated to veterinary medicine for horses and 736 divided into nine medical texts for humans. These texts cover a range of topics, including surgery, dermatology, internal medicine, ophthalmology, traumatology, and gynecology. Some remedies include consuming bull’s urine for jaundice and using chilies to treat headaches.
A figurine measuring about 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) in length was also found at the site. This figurine features key acupuncture points marked on it, offering insights into the evolution of acupuncture as a therapeutic practice.
3. Siberia Hosted an Advanced Surgical Hub
Archaeologists were amazed to uncover that ancient Siberian nomads established a significant center for skull surgery around 2,300–2,500 years ago. By studying three skulls (two male, one female) from the Altai Mountains, a team of modern neurosurgeons, archaeologists, and anthropologists determined that these ancient surgeons skillfully used a single primitive tool to scrape the skull with advanced techniques. They also seemed to follow principles outlined in the Hippocratic Corpus, a collection of medical texts developed in Greece between the sixth and fourth centuries B.C.
One male patient had a blood clot resulting from head trauma, likely causing nausea, headaches, and other symptoms. Trepanation was likely performed to remove the clot. Remarkably, the skull exhibited bone growth post-surgery, indicating the man survived for many years afterward.
The second male showed no signs of head trauma, suggesting the surgery aimed to correct a congenital skull deformity. In both cases, the surgeons created a small opening to access the brain with minimal harm to the membrane and joints.
The woman had injuries from a fall but did not survive the surgery. Her surgeon made several errors, highlighting that even in ancient times, selecting the right surgeon was crucial.
Although the specific scraping tool was not found at the site, archaeologists believe it was a bronze knife. Early Siberians may have developed exceptional skull surgery skills through their extensive experience with cutting animal bones.
“Honestly, I am astonished,” said Novosibirsk neurosurgeon Aleksei Krivoshapkin, who analyzed the skulls. “We now suspect that during Hippocrates’ time, the Altai people were capable of precise diagnoses and performed highly skilled trepanations and remarkable brain surgeries.”
2. Blackbeard Prioritized Health Care for His Crew
In 1717, the infamous pirate Blackbeard seized his flagship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, from its French crew, who were largely incapacitated or deceased due to illness. However, Blackbeard commanded the ship for less than a year. In early 1718, it ran aground on a sandbar in North Carolina. Taking his most trusted men and nearly all the plundered goods, Blackbeard deserted the ship and most of his crew. He was later killed by the Royal Navy in November 1718.
Blackbeard was in robust health during his final battle, fiercely attempting to board an enemy vessel. “He stood his ground and fought with tremendous ferocity until he sustained 25 wounds, five of which were from gunshots,” wrote Captain Charles Johnson in 1724. “Finally, as he was preparing to fire another pistol, having discharged several already, he collapsed and died.”
The Queen Anne’s Revenge was discovered in 1996, and archaeologists have been excavating the shipwreck ever since. Recent findings have revealed surprising details. Historical records and newly unearthed artifacts suggest that Blackbeard prioritized his crew’s health. Life at sea posed numerous risks, including injuries, illnesses, burns, toothaches, and amputations. To address these, Blackbeard retained three surgeons from the original French crew of the Queen Anne’s Revenge and likely seized medical equipment from the captured vessel.
Among the discoveries was a urethral syringe used to administer mercury for syphilis treatment—though mercury poisoning often proved fatal. Archaeologists also uncovered two enemas, though their exact purpose and contents remain unclear. Additionally, tools for bloodletting, medicine preparation, and surgery were found, along with containers for storing potions, ointments, and balms.
1. The Baghdad Battery Might Have Served as a Pain Reliever
Around 75 years ago, Wilhelm Konig, the director of the Baghdad Museum, revealed the discovery of the 2,000-year-old Baghdad battery. These artifacts were small clay jars containing copper cylinders and iron rods. Konig theorized they might have been used to electroplate gold onto silver objects. When connected, they could generate up to 4 volts of electricity. These batteries were dated between 250 B.C. and A.D. 640.
However, as we’ve previously explored, these artifacts seemed out of place. Their existence in that historical context didn’t align logically. Many found Konig’s explanation unconvincing, leaving the battery’s true purpose unresolved.
Paul T. Keyser, a researcher from the University of Alberta, offered a medical perspective in the Journal of Near Eastern Studies in 1993. He suggested the Baghdad battery might have been a device designed to relieve pain, akin to how ancient Greeks used electric eels to numb inflamed feet. Keyser proposed that in regions like Mesopotamia, lacking electric fish, these batteries could have been used with bronze or iron needles for a form of electro-acupuncture, similar to Chinese practices of the time.
