4,000-Year-Old Skull Reveals Ancient Egyptians Were Trying to Cure Cancer

The ancient Egyptians are renowned for their extraordinary advancements in medicine, but a recent discovery has unveiled a surprising new facet of their medical knowledge: the attempted treatment of cancer. 

This groundbreaking finding offers a unique glimpse into how ancient societies grappled with the disease over 4,000 years ago.

Researchers made a startling discovery when they examined two ancient skulls housed in the University of Cambridge’s Duckworth Collection. 

These skulls, dating back to between 2687 and 2345 BCE for one and between 663 and 343 BCE for the other, belonged to a male and female, respectively. 

The meticulous examination revealed cutmarks around cancerous lesions, suggesting that the ancient Egyptians may have attempted surgical interventions to treat cancerous growths.

“When we first observed the cutmarks under the microscope, we could not believe what was in front of us,” said Tatiana Tondini, a researcher at the University of Tübingen and first author of the study published in Frontiers in Medicine. 

The cutmarks indicate the use of sharp metal instruments, pointing to a form of early surgical practice.

This discovery provides unprecedented evidence that ancient Egyptian medicine extended beyond treating common ailments and injuries. 

They were experimenting with treating complex diseases like cancer. “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,” added Prof. Edgard Camarós, a paleopathologist at the University of Santiago de Compostela and lead author of the study. 

It challenges our understanding of ancient medical practices and opens new avenues for research in paleo-oncology.

The male skull, known as Skull 236, exhibited a large lesion consistent with excessive tissue destruction—a condition known as neoplasm. 

Furthermore, around 30 small, round metastasized lesions were scattered across the skull. This suggests that the individual had advanced cancer, providing a rare and valuable case study for researchers.

The female skull, referred to as Skull E270, displayed a significant lesion indicative of a cancerous tumor leading to bone destruction. 

Additionally, this skull had two healed lesions from traumatic injuries, possibly from close-range violent events. 

Such findings on a female skeleton are uncommon and raise intriguing questions about the role of women in ancient conflicts.

“Was this female individual involved in any kind of warfare activities?” pondered Tondini. “If so, we must rethink the role of women in the past and how they took active part in conflicts during antiquity.”

While these discoveries are fascinating, the study of ancient skeletal remains comes with inherent challenges. 

Incomplete remains and the lack of a known clinical history make definitive statements difficult. 

“In archaeology, we work with a fragmented portion of the past, complicating an accurate approach,” noted Prof. Albert Isidro, a surgical oncologist and co-author of the study.

Despite these challenges, this study marks a significant step forward in our understanding of ancient medical practices. 

It highlights the Egyptians' advanced medical knowledge and their willingness to explore treatments for complex diseases like cancer. 

As Prof. Camarós concluded, “This study contributes to a changing of perspective and sets an encouraging base for future research in the field of paleo-oncology, but more studies will be needed to untangle how ancient societies dealt with cancer.”

The revelation that ancient Egyptians were experimenting with cancer treatments over 4,000 years ago is not just a testament to their medical prowess but also a reminder of the enduring human spirit to understand and combat disease. 

As researchers continue to delve into the past, we can look forward to uncovering even more about the medical practices of ancient civilizations.