Ancient dentistry
"The earliest evidence of ancient dentistry we have is
an amazingly detailed dental work on a mummy from ancient Egypt that
archaeologists have dated to 2000 BCE. The work shows intricate gold
work around the teeth. This mummy was found with two donor teeth that
had holes drilled into them. Wires were strung through the holes and
then around the neighboring teeth."
Photos and text from Disturbing and Provocative Art, via Biomedical Ephemera, or: A Frog for your Boils. Original source uncredited.
I'll say that's the most amazing piece of information I came across today. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI will agree with AM. I an an Egyptophile and I am frequently amazed by what I learn about the ancients.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteWas this a postmortem fix for burial or was this meant as a functional way to chew for someone? Would the gums have held the replacement teeth stable since the jaw bone has deteriorated where the teeth are missing?
ReplyDeleteI find this fascinating.
Gums don't hold teeth stable. The periodontal ligament and the bone provide stability. Crude as it may be, wiring teeth like this are a precursor to the modern day dental bridge.
DeleteKinda scares me looking at the picture. Still really cool though. a mummy with straight teeth is a happy mummy!
ReplyDeleteFascinating! With that being said....OUCH!
ReplyDeleteAstonishing
ReplyDelete