Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 2005
The site of Dayr al-Barsh? has become the focus of renewed attention since the recent start of ar... more The site of Dayr al-Barsh? has become the focus of renewed attention since the recent start of archaeological field work there by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. Archaeological and epigraphicmissions have been carried out on a yearly basis since 2002.1 Although the site is primarily known for its Middle Kingdomnomarchal tombs, recent excavations have brought to light abundant remains of funerary, domestic, and industrial activity dating from the Old Kingdom through the Cop tic Period. The areas presently ...
The current study presents the archaeobotanical analysis of mud bricks and plasters from the Copt... more The current study presents the archaeobotanical analysis of mud bricks and plasters from the Coptic occupation (from ca 400 to ca 800 AD) from several localities in the vicinity of Dayr al-Barshā, Middle Egypt. The data set presented comes from three locations, ie, Dayr Abū Hinnis (reused quarries), Dayr al-Barshā and al-Shaykh Sa‛ īd (reused Pharaonic tombs) and consists mainly of desiccated plant material retrieved from 32 samples. The chaff and particularly rachis fragments of main cereal crops characteristic for the period of study, ...
The use of surgical techniques in ancient Egyptian medicine has only been suggested indirectly th... more The use of surgical techniques in ancient Egyptian medicine has only been suggested indirectly through ancient medical texts and iconography, and there is no evidence of amputation as a means of therapeutic medical treatment. This paper presents four cases of amputation from the archaeological site of Dayr al-Barsha, Egypt. Two of the cases (dated to the First Intermediate and Middle Kingdom periods, respectively) are from individuals that display bilateral amputations of the feet, one through the metatarso- phalangeal joints, the other a transmetatarsal amputation. The exact reason for the amputation, perhaps from trauma or disease, is unknown. The particular healing patterns of the distal ends of the amputations suggest these individuals used foot binding or prosthetic devices. Another case represents a healed amputation of the left ulna near the elbow, dated to the Old Kingdom. The final case represents a perimortem amputation of the distal end of the right humerus. The exact date of this individual is unknown, but most likely pertains to the Old Kingdom or First Intermediate period. This individual seems to have suffered a traumatic incident shortly before death, sustaining many fractures, including a butterfly fracture on the right humerus. Several cut marks were identified on top of the butterfly fracture, indicating amputation of the arm at this point. All four cases support the hypothesis that the ancient Egyptians did use amputation as a therapeutic medical treatment for particular diseases or trauma.
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 2005
The site of Dayr al-Barsh? has become the focus of renewed attention since the recent start of ar... more The site of Dayr al-Barsh? has become the focus of renewed attention since the recent start of archaeological field work there by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. Archaeological and epigraphicmissions have been carried out on a yearly basis since 2002.1 Although the site is primarily known for its Middle Kingdomnomarchal tombs, recent excavations have brought to light abundant remains of funerary, domestic, and industrial activity dating from the Old Kingdom through the Cop tic Period. The areas presently ...
The current study presents the archaeobotanical analysis of mud bricks and plasters from the Copt... more The current study presents the archaeobotanical analysis of mud bricks and plasters from the Coptic occupation (from ca 400 to ca 800 AD) from several localities in the vicinity of Dayr al-Barshā, Middle Egypt. The data set presented comes from three locations, ie, Dayr Abū Hinnis (reused quarries), Dayr al-Barshā and al-Shaykh Sa‛ īd (reused Pharaonic tombs) and consists mainly of desiccated plant material retrieved from 32 samples. The chaff and particularly rachis fragments of main cereal crops characteristic for the period of study, ...
The use of surgical techniques in ancient Egyptian medicine has only been suggested indirectly th... more The use of surgical techniques in ancient Egyptian medicine has only been suggested indirectly through ancient medical texts and iconography, and there is no evidence of amputation as a means of therapeutic medical treatment. This paper presents four cases of amputation from the archaeological site of Dayr al-Barsha, Egypt. Two of the cases (dated to the First Intermediate and Middle Kingdom periods, respectively) are from individuals that display bilateral amputations of the feet, one through the metatarso- phalangeal joints, the other a transmetatarsal amputation. The exact reason for the amputation, perhaps from trauma or disease, is unknown. The particular healing patterns of the distal ends of the amputations suggest these individuals used foot binding or prosthetic devices. Another case represents a healed amputation of the left ulna near the elbow, dated to the Old Kingdom. The final case represents a perimortem amputation of the distal end of the right humerus. The exact date of this individual is unknown, but most likely pertains to the Old Kingdom or First Intermediate period. This individual seems to have suffered a traumatic incident shortly before death, sustaining many fractures, including a butterfly fracture on the right humerus. Several cut marks were identified on top of the butterfly fracture, indicating amputation of the arm at this point. All four cases support the hypothesis that the ancient Egyptians did use amputation as a therapeutic medical treatment for particular diseases or trauma.
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