Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – The application of advanced archaeological technology has provided new insights into the sophisticated medical instruments used by Roman surgeons 2,000 years ago. A CT scanner capable of examining objects beneath their surface was employed to study six medical implements, including a bronze scalpel handle used in surgical procedures.
Credit: University of Exeter
The research, conducted at the University of Exeter’s SHArD 3D Lab, also examined two surgical probes, a spoon, and two needles. This analysis aims to enhance our understanding of how Roman medical practitioners utilized these tools when treating injuries and various medical conditions in ancient Britain.
These artifacts are part of the Devon and Exeter Medical Heritage Trust (DEMHT) collection. They were discovered 125 years ago at a site along the Walbrook River in London, an area known for its well-preserved Roman-era tools and objects.
Professor Rebecca Flemming, who holds the position of Leventis Professor of Ancient Greek Scientific and Technological Thought, has been studying these instruments as part of her research into ancient medicine. Her work focuses on the implements and substances used in healing practices during that period.
“New technologies allow us to investigate ancient objects in novel and exciting ways, revealing so much more about their design and manufacture, their capabilities and use,” said Professor Flemming, who is based in Exeter’s Department of Classics, Ancient History, Religion and Theology.
“In this case, you can see the attention devoted to crafting the socket where the iron scalpel blade was originally inserted into the bronze handle. The tiny scrolls are both beautiful and functional, making it easier to replace worn blades over the lifetime of the instrument. It is only the bronze that now survives, alongside Greek and Roman medical texts referring to these implements and describing the kinds of surgical interventions in which they were involved.”
Credit: University of Exeter
Professor Flemming states that Roman surgeons used scalpels for operations and treatments, including bloodletting. Probes were used to examine wounds, fistulas, and fractures before surgery, and to remove earwax. Spoon-like tools likely prepared medicines, while needles probably sutured bandages.
“It is fascinating to find out more about the material in our collection,” said Megan Woolley, co-ordinator of DEMHT in a press release. “And having models of historical objects means people can handle them and help us to discover much more about how they would have been used.”
The work is the first humanities-led microCT facility in the South West, and enables researchers to create 3D scans of archaeological and cultural artifacts, which are non-destructive to the original.
For the project, the CT scanner generated detailed 3D models of the instruments at a resolution of 0.05mm, and with its X-ray capabilities the researchers have been able to peer below the corroded surface layers to look at the original material beneath. The scans of the instruments will enable exact replicas to be produced through 3D printing, which can then be used for teaching and public engagement.
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“I am interested in the practice of ancient medicine, and also the ways that the Roman empire spread similar kinds of surgical instruments right across their territory, from Britain to Syria,” adds Professor Flemming. “And what this project also reveals is the potential we have here to bring heritage organizations such as DEMHT together with the technologies of SHArD 3D to explore common questions and aims.”
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
