Medicine Through Time Pre- history
Dec 16, 2015
What was Prehistoric Medicine capable of doing?
• Make a list of some of the equipment that modern doctors use to diagnose or treat medical conditions.
• Prehistoric man could NOT treat certain conditions. For example…
• However, prehistoric man could and did perform some medical procedures.
Problems with Studying Prehistoric Medicine
• Archaeology and Examination of Artefacts• Compare with existing prehistoric societies
– Aboriginal societies
•No written Evidence•How can we overcome this problem?
Archaeology and Artefacts
Excavation Techniques
Nomadic lifestyleWarriors/huntersKilled away from
Tribe/group
PrehistoricBurial Traditions
Skeletons not always helpful
Problems withArchaeology
Cave Drawing
The Role of Shamans or Medicine Men in providing medical care
• Headaches and diseases were blamed on…
• A shaman was the person who…
• Charms were worn to…
Nomadic Lifestyle
• Could be Surprisingly Healthy– Fit and Active lifestyle– Eat fresh food– Little Pollution or Dirt
• Move to new camps
– Low Population Density• Germs
– Little exposure to animals
All change with the Agricultural Revolution
• When humans settled down to grow crops and raise animals their health began to get worse. Can you list why this may have been the case?
Isbister Case StudyStatement True/False Evidence to support your decision
Osteoarthritis was very common
Women lived longer than men.
Skeletons provide a good source of evidence
Dental health was good
Australian Aborigines are a good source of evidence
Natural remedies were used to treat illnesses
There was no surgical treatment
Bones from tombs are a good source of evidence
Belief systems were not relevant to medicine
Glossary Words
• Trephining
• Abscess
• Osteo-arthiritis
• Ulcer
• Anti-Septic
• Anti-Biotic
• Remedy