Prehistoric Medicine 3000 BC to AD 43

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Prehistoric Medicine3000 BC to AD 43

The History of Medicine

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How do we know?

How do we know about what life was like so long ago?

There were no written records available at this time, so we have to rely on the findings of archaeologists.

Archaeologists have studied skeletons from prehistoric times (including ones found individually and those found in large tombs) and well-preserved bodies found in peat bogs. Cave paintings can also give evidence of what life was like.

What type of evidence do you think can be discovered from the study of skeletons?


The study of skeletons and preserved bodies can yield the following evidence:

what sorts of diseases prehistoric people suffered from

what condition their bones and teeth were in

whether physical work or warfare caused death or deformity

what they ate for their last meal

how old they were when they died.


Medical knowledge and beliefs

Archaeologists have found some evidence that suggests what the beliefs of prehistoric people were. Cave paintings give clues about what people thought caused some diseases. Other evidence, such as charms, provide further clues about these beliefs.

To confirm their ideas, historians have talked to groups of people, such as some Aborigines in Australia, whose lifestyles have not changed for thousands of years. By examining their beliefs and practices we can get an insight into prehistoric life.


Aboriginal beliefs and treatments

Those Aborigines who still follow their traditional culture believe that everyone has their own spirit inside themselves. If a person becomes ill, it is because their spirit has left them, or an evil spirit has entered their body.

To get treatment, Aborigines go to a Medicine Man who knows all about spirits. He puts his patient into a trance by singing and chanting and then massages the sick area which releases the spirit and the patient is cured.


Traditionally, Aborigines also wore charms to keep evil spirits away, and buried their cut-off nails and hair and their excrement, probably to prevent spirits casting spells on them.

All through the history of medicine we find the use of herbal medicine to cure illness and disease, and the Aborigines are no exception. Many women treat their families with herbal remedies and use recipes handed down over thousands of years.


Prehistoric people understood that some medical problems were the result of natural causes, and would treat the problems using natural remedies.

When the causes of an ailment weren't understood, the problem was believed to have supernatural causes.

For example, an open wound might be covered up.

For example, a fit would be thought to be caused by the body being possessed by a spirit.


Surgery

What do you think were the dangers of trepanning?

There was very limited use of surgery in prehistoric times. One amazing operation did take place. This was trepanning or trephining, which involved cutting a hole in the skull, possibly to release evil spirits which were causing illness.

Archaeological evidence suggests that people did survive trepanning, although we don't know whether it had any positive effects.


No. While medicine in prehistoric Britain and many other places were primitive, elsewhere in the world there were some countries which were highly civilized and advanced.

The Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations all developed comfortable lifestyles, with an emphasis on hygiene and medical care.

Was the state of medicine and health the same everywhere at this time?

Now write a sentence explaining how the following factors affected medicine in prehistoric Britain:

beliefseducationcommunications.

Prehistoric Medicine 3000 BC to AD 43

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