Keywords
Paleopathology, Disease, Traumatic conditions, parietal thinning, cribra orbitalia, osteoarthritis, diseases of the dentition, Ancient Egypt, Egyptology, Dayr al-Barsha, Sheikh Said, Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom
Abstract
For centuries, people have been fascinated with how the ancient Egyptians lived, and particularly how they died. Although Egyptologists in the past had a greater interest in the treasures that accompanied the dead, there has now been a shift in focus on the actual ancient Egyptians themselves and their ways of life. Recognizing the health and disease status of ancient Egyptians has become particularly important. The aim of this research project is to document the paleopathology of the individuals from the sites of Dayr al-Barsha and Sheikh Said encompassing the Old Kingdom (2686 - 2160 BC), the First Intermediate Period (2160 - 2055 BC), and the Middle Kingdom (2055-1650 BC) periods. The site of Dayr al-Barsha was most importantly the necropolis, or burial site, used by the inhabitants of the ancient city of Hermopolis Magna, and it was also a very prominent quarry site. Today, Dayr al-Barsha is a large scale archaeological site that has been divided into eleven zones. The results of this research reveal a documented list of paleopathologies that include traumatic conditions, congenital anomalies, joint diseases, infectious diseases, hematological disorders, dental pathology, neoplastic conditions, and various other conditions that ailed the people in their daily lives. Fractures and dental diseases are the paleopathologies that occurred most frequently. These pathologies provide important knowledge about the living conditions and occupations during the span of the Old Kingdom through the Middle Kingdom.
Notes
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Graduation Date
2010
Advisor
Dupras, Tosha
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
College
College of Sciences
Department
Anthropology
Degree Program
Anthropology
Format
application/pdf
Identifier
CFE0003119
URL
http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0003119
Language
English
Release Date
May 2010
Length of Campus-only Access
None
Access Status
Masters Thesis (Open Access)
STARS Citation
Malnasi, Cindy, "Paleopathology In Ancient Eygpt: Evidence From The Sites Of Dayr Al-barsha And Sheikh Said" (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4363.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/4363