[Roman medical instruments from Lower Moesia]

Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2010 Oct-Dec;114(4):1254-60.
[Article in French]

Abstract

To elucidate the evolution of society over time, ancient medicine is a very interesting and important researching field. Archaeological discoveries, such as the objects described by this article, but other ancient sources, also, are able to provide a complex framework of medical practice in Roman times. The geographic area that we have like target in this material is the province of Lower Moesia, which includes the territory between Danube and Black Sea (Romanian Dobrodja) and northern Bulgaria. In the present study we present nine ancient medical instruments, from a private collection: two tweezers, two ear probes, a probe-spatula, a probe-spoon, a spoon for pharmacy and two fragments of some kind of hooks used in surgical operations. Most likely, we have a mixed medical kit with tools used in general medicine, surgery, in preparation of the pharmaceutical treatments, but very possible, also, in cosmetic practices. Publication of these archaeological materials is, in addition to an extra page in the history of ancient medicine, a pretext for stepping up in a research field that, in other regions of the former Roman Empire, it is a great interest for researchers.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Archaeology / history
  • Black Sea
  • Bulgaria
  • General Surgery / history*
  • History of Pharmacy
  • History, Ancient
  • Humans
  • Roman World / history
  • Romania
  • Surgery, Plastic / history*
  • Surgical Instruments / history*