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Prehistoric medicine
Prehistoric medicine is any use of medicine
from before the invention of writing and the
documented history of medicine. Because the
timing of the invention of writing per culture and
region, the term "prehistoric medicine"
encompasses a wide range of time periods and
dates.[1]

The study of prehistoric medicine relies heavily on

artifacts and human remains, and on anthropology.
Previously uncontacted peoples and certain
indigenous peoples who live in a traditional way A skull showing evidence of trepanning
have been the subject of anthropological studies in
order to gain insight into both contemporary and
ancient practices.[2]

Contents
Disease and mortality
Treatments for diseases
Plant materials
The use of earth and clays
Surgery
Magic and medicine men
Dentistry
The problem of evidence
See also
References
External links

Disease and mortality

Some diseases and ailments were more common in prehistory than they are today; there is
evidence that many people suffered from osteoarthritis, probably caused by the lifting of heavy
objects which would have been a daily and necessary task in their societies. For example, the
transport of latte stones, a practice started during the neolithic era, which involved hyper
extension and torque of the lower back while dragging the stones, may have contributed to the
development of micro fractures in the spine and subsequent spondylolysis. Things such as cuts,
bruises, and breakages of bone, without antiseptics, proper facilities, or knowledge of germs,
would become very serious if infected, as they did not have sufficient ways to treat infection.[3]
There is also evidence of rickets, bone deformity and bone wastage (Osteomalacia),[4] which is
caused by a lack of Vitamin D.

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The life expectancy in prehistoric times was low, 25–40 years,[5] with men living longer than
women; archaeological evidence of women and babies found together suggests that many women
would have died in childbirth, perhaps accounting for the lower life expectancy in women than
men. Another possible explanation for the shorter life spans of prehistoric humans may be
malnutrition; also, men as hunters may have sometimes received better food than the woman, who
would consequently have been less resistant to disease.[6]

Treatments for diseases

Plant materials

Plant materials (herbs and substances derived from natural

sources)[10] were among the treatments for diseases in
prehistoric cultures. Since plant materials quickly rot under
most conditions, historians are unlikely to fully understand
which species were used in prehistoric medicine. A speculative
view can be obtained by researching the climate of the
respective society and then checking which species continue to
grow in similar conditions today[11] and through
anthropological studies of existing indigenous peoples.[12][13]
Herbs such as rosemary may have
Unlike the ancient civilisations which could source plant been used for medical purposes by
materials internationally, prehistoric societies would have been
prehistoric people.[7] [8] [9]
restricted to localised areas, though nomadic tribes may have
had a greater variety of plant materials at their disposal than
more stationary societies.

The effects of different plant materials could have been found through trial and error.[14]
Gathering and dispensing of plant materials was in most cultures handled by women, who cared
for the health of their family.[15] Plant materials were an important cure for diseases throughout
history.[16] This fund of knowledge would have been passed down orally through the generations.

The birch polypore fungus, commonly found in alpine environments, may have been used as a
laxative by prehistoric people living in Northern Europe, since it is known to bring on short bouts
of diarrhoea when ingested, and was found among the possessions of a mummified man.[17]

The use of earth and clays

Earths and clays may have provided prehistoric peoples with some of their first medicines. This is
related to geophagy, which is extremely widespread among animals in the wild as well as among
domesticated animals. In particular, geophagy is widespread among contemporary non-human
primates.[18] Also, early humans could have learned about the use of various healing clays by
observing animal behaviour. Such clay is used both internally and externally, such as for treating
wounds, and after surgery (see below). Geophagy, and the external use of clay are both still quite
widespread among aboriginal peoples around the world, as well as among pre-industrial
populations.

Surgery

Trepanning (sometimes Trephining) was a basic surgical operation carried out in prehistoric
societies across the world,[19][20] although evidence shows a concentration of the practice in
Peru.[16][19][21] Several theories question the reasoning behind trepanning; it could have been used
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to cure certain conditions such as headaches and epilepsy.[22][23] There is evidence discovered of
bone tissue surrounding the surgical hole partially grown back, so therefore survival of the
procedure did occur at least on occasion.[16]

Many prehistoric peoples, where applicable (geographically and technologically), were able to set
broken or fractured bones using clay materials. An injured area was covered in clay, which then set
hard so that the bone could heal properly without interference.[1] Also, primarily in the Americas,
the pincers of certain ant species were used to close up wounds from infection; the ant was held
above the wound until it bit, where its head would be removed allowing the pincers to remain and
hold closed the wound.[24]

Magic and medicine men

Medicine men (also witch-doctors, shamans) maintained the

health of their tribe by gathering and distributing herbs,
performing minor surgical procedures,[26] providing medical
advice, and supernatural treatments such as charms, spells,
and amulets to ward off evil spirits.[27] In Apache society, as
would likely have been the case in many others, the medicine
men initiate a ceremony over the patient, which is attended by
family and friends. It consists of magic formulas, prayers, and
drumming. The medicine man then, from patients' recalling of
their past and possible offenses against their religion or tribal
rules, reveals the nature of the disease and how to treat it.

They were believed by the tribe to be able to contact spirits or

gods and use their supernatural powers to cure the patient,
and, in the process, remove evil spirits. If neither this method
nor trepanning worked, the spirit was considered too powerful
to be driven out of the person. Medicine men would likely have
been central figures in the tribal system, because of their
medical knowledge and because they could seemingly contact
the gods. Their religious and medical training were, Yup'ik shaman exorcising evil spirits
necessarily, passed down orally.[28] from a sick boy.[25]

Dentistry
Archaeologists in Mehrgarh in Balochistan province in the present day Pakistan discovered that
the people of Indus Valley civilization from the early Harappan periods (c. 3300 BC) had
knowledge of medicine and dentistry. The physical anthropologist who carried out the
examinations, Professor Andrea Cucina from the University of Missouri, made the discovery when
he was cleaning the teeth from one of the men. Later research in the same area found evidence of
teeth having been drilled dating to 7,000 B.C.E.[29]

The problem of evidence

There is no written evidence that can be used for investigation into the prehistoric period of
history by definition. Historians must use other sources such as human remains and
anthropological studies of societies living under similar conditions. A variety of problems arise
when the aforementioned sources are used.

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Human remains from this period are rare and many have undoubtedly been destroyed by burial
rituals or made useless by damage.[30][31] The most informative archaeological evidence are
mummies, remains which have been preserved by either freezing or in peat bogs;[32][33] no
evidence exists to suggest that prehistoric people mummified the dead for religious reasons, as
Ancient Egyptians did. These bodies can provide scientists with subjects' (at the time of death):
weight, illnesses, height, diet, age, and bone conditions,[34] which grant vital indications of how
developed prehistoric medicine was.

Not technically classed as 'written evidence', prehistoric people left many kinds of paintings, using
paints made of minerals such as lime, clay and charcoal, and brushes made from feathers, animal
fur, or twigs on the walls caves. Although many of these paintings are thought to have a spiritual or
religious purpose,[35] there have been some, such as a man with antlers (thought to be a medicine
man), which have revealed some part of prehistoric medicine. Many cave paintings of human
hands have shown missing fingers (none have been shown without thumbs), which suggests that
these were cut off for sacrificial or practical purposes, as is the case among the Pygmies and
Khoikhoi.[36]

The writings of certain cultures (such as the Romans) can be used as evidence in discovering how
their contemporary prehistoric cultures practiced medicine. People who live a similar nomadic
existence today have been used as a source of evidence too, but obviously, there are distinct
differences in the environments in which nomadic people lived; prehistoric people who once lived
in Britain for example, cannot be effectively compared to aboriginal peoples in Australia, because
of the geographical differences.[37]

See also
Anthropology
Bush medicine
Human fat
Mellified Man
Native American ethnobotany
Paleolithic diet
Primitive skills
Sweat lodge
Venus of Willendorf

References
1. Kelly, Nigel; Rees, Bob; Shuter, Paul (2003). Medicine Through Time (https://books.google.co
m/books?id=1qiFEQ1tAHQC&q=prehistoric+medicine&pg=PA1). Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-
435-30841-4.
2. "Traditional Medicine" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120625221136/http://www.wpro.who.int/t
opics/traditional_medicine/en/). World Health Organization. Archived from the original (http://w
ww.wpro.who.int/topics/traditional_medicine/en/) on June 25, 2012. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
3. "The History of Medicine, Pre-history" (http://www.britishempire.co.uk/boniface/humanities/hist
ory/year10/prehistoric.htm). Student reference and support materials. St Boniface's College.
Retrieved 2009-02-19.
4. "Babylon to Birmingham, A short journey through medicine to the end of the 18th Century" (htt
p://www.revolutionaryplayers.org.uk/babylon-to-birmingham/). Revolutionary Players. History
West Midlands. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
5. Schools History Project (26 September 1996). Medicine & Health Through Time: an SHP
Development Study. Hodder Education. ISBN 978-0719552656.
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6. "Prehistoric Medicine" (http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/6303/1/Prehistoric-Medicine.html).

HealthGuidance.Org. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
7. Browning, Marie (1999). Natural Soapmaking (https://books.google.com/books?id=ow3cd7iJk-
QC&q=rosemary+used+by+prehistoric+people&pg=PA8). Sterling Publishing. p. 128.
ISBN 978-0-8069-6289-4.
8. "Aboriginal Plant Use in SE Australia" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150513040433/http://ww
w.anbg.gov.au/aborig.s.e.aust/s.e.a.mapkey.html). Australian Government, Australian National
Botanic Gardens. Archived from the original (http://www.anbg.gov.au/aborig.s.e.aust/s.e.a.map
key.html) on 2015-05-13. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
9. "Medical use of Spices" (http://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/biomed/spice/index.cfm?spicefilename=
medspice.txt&itemsuppress=yes&displayswitch=0). UCLA Library, History and Special
collections. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
10. "Use Of Spices As Medicines" (http://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/biomed/spice/index.cfm?spicefile
name=SpicesAsMeds.txt&itemsuppress=yes&displayswitch=0). UCLA Library, History and
Special collections. Retrieved 2009-02-19. Mentions spices being used by some prehistoric
cultures
11. Lock, Robin (2002). Plants of the Humid Tropics Biome. Eden Project books. p. 128.
ISBN 978-1-90391913-2.
12. Moerman, Daniel E. (2009). Native American Medicinal Plants: an ethnobotanical dictionary.
Portland, OR / London: Timber Press. ISBN 978-0-88192-987-4. {{cite encyclopedia}}:
Missing or empty |title= (help)
13. "Native American Herbal Remedies" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110723181953/http://ww
w.powersource.com/cherokee/herbal.html). Cherokee Messenger. Cherokee Cultural Society
of Houston. 1996. Archived from the original (http://www.powersource.com/cherokee/herbal.ht
ml) on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
14. Schools History Project. "BBC - GCSE Bitesize, Prehistoric Civilisation" (http://www.bbc.co.uk/
schools/gcsebitesize/history/shp/ancient/prehistoriccivilisationrev1.shtml). GCSE Bitesize.
BBC. "They have done this through a process of trial and error and natural selection."
15. Hobbs, Christopher (6 December 2000). "Herbal Medicine: An Outline of The History of
Herbalism An Overview and Literature Resource List" (http://www.healthy.net/Health/Article/An
_Outline_of_The_History_of_Herbalism_An_Overview_and_Literature_Resource_List/901).
healthy.net. HealthWorld Online. Retrieved December 30, 2015. "... women prepared food and
healing potions--women generally practiced herbalism on a day to day basis, taking care of the
ills of other members of the family or tribal unit"
16. "Primitive Medicine" (http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa5
2). HistoryWorld. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
17. Wilford, John Noble (December 8, 1998). "Lessons in Iceman's Prehistoric Medicine Kit" (http
s://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502E3DD173AF93BA35751C1A96E958260).
The New York Times. New York. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
18. Krishnamani, R.; Mahaney, William C. (2000). "Geophagy among primates: Adaptive
significance and ecological consequences". Animal Behaviour. 59 (5): 899–915.
doi:10.1006/anbe.1999.1376 (https://doi.org/10.1006%2Fanbe.1999.1376). PMID 10860518 (h
ttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10860518). S2CID 43702331 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/
CorpusID:43702331).
19. "Pre-Columbian Trephination" (http://www.neurosurgery.org/cybermuseum/pre20th/treph/trephi
nation.html). NEUROSURGERY://ON-CALL/Cyber Museum of Neurosurgery. American
Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Retrieved
2009-02-19.

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20. Piek J, Lidke G, Terberger T, von Smekal U, Gaab MR (July 1999). "Stone age skull surgery in
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: a systematic study". Neurosurgery. 45 (1): 147–51, discussion
151. doi:10.1097/00006123-199907000-00033 (https://doi.org/10.1097%2F00006123-1999070
00-00033). PMID 10414577 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10414577). A small but
informative text
21. "Trephination, An Ancient Surgery" (https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170855/http://www.
uic.edu/classes/osci/osci590/6_2Trephination.htm). UIC Oral Sciences OSCI 590: Hominid
Evolution, Dental Anthropology, and Human Variation. University of Illinois at Chicago.
Archived from the original (http://www.uic.edu/classes/osci/osci590/6_2Trephination.htm) on
March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2015. "In Peruvian practice there is considerable
evidence that many of the operations were performed for the naturalistic purpose of removing
a bone fragment ... and trephination undertaken as a supernatural curative procedure by
shamans (sancoyoc) with little technical ability as surgeons."
22. Siegfried, Juliette. "History of Brain Surgery" (http://www.brain-surgery.com/history.html). Brain-
Surgery.com. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
23. Osler, Sir William (1922). The Evolution of Modern Medicine: A Series of Lectures Delivered at
Yale University on the Silliman Foundation in April, 1913 (http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=c
hi.16616738;view=1up;seq=30). New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 6–9. See the section
"Origin Of Medicine"
24. Gudger, E. W. (1925). "Stitching Wounds With the Mandibles of Ants and Beetles". J. Am.
Med. Assoc. 84: 1861–4.
25. Fienup-Riordan, Ann (1994). Boundaries and Passages: Rule and Ritual in Yup'ik Eskimo Oral
Tradition. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-585-12190-1.
26. "Mysteries of Africa" (https://web.archive.org/web/20160304233458/http://www.encounter.co.z
a/article/7.html). Encounter South Africa. Encounter Magazine. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.encounter.co.za/article/7.html) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
Stories of Medicine Men in Africa
27. Ackerknecht, Erwin Heinz (1982) [1955]. A Short History of Medicine (https://books.google.co
m/books?id=Btx3M5t6lDEC&q=prehistoric+medicine&pg=PA8) (Johns Hopkins
Paperbacks ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-2726-6.
28. "Healing Secrets of Aboriginal Bush Medicine" (https://web.archive.org/web/20190306075819/
http://www.bri.net.au/medicine.html). Big River Internet. Archived from the original (http://www.
bri.net.au/medicine.html) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2015. "Trained from an
early age by their elders and initiated into the deepest of tribal secrets..."
29. "Stone age man used dentist drill" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4882968.stm). BBC
News. 2006-04-06. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
30. Coulson, Ian. "Prehistoric Medicine In Kent" (https://web.archive.org/web/20081202061022/htt
p://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/subjects/history/medhist/page9_pkent.html). The History of Health
and Medicine in Kent. Kent County Council. Archived from the original (http://www.kented.org.
uk/ngfl/subjects/history/medhist/page9_pkent.html) on December 2, 2008. Retrieved
December 30, 2015. "It is a matter of luck because only some skeletons survive"
31. Wikipedia's Ötzi the Iceman Article '..three or four of his right ribs had been squashed when he
had been lying face down after death, or where the ice had crushed his body.'
32. "myDigiGuide: The Best UK TV Guide" (https://archive.today/20120913114114/http://www.mydi
giguide.com/tv-guide/tv.dll?a=6&h=49&PID=23519). www.mydigiguide.com. Archived from the
original (http://www.mydigiguide.com/tv-guide/tv.dll) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
33. Malam, John (2001). Secret Worlds: Mummies, and the Secrets of Ancient Egypt (https://archi
ve.org/details/mummiessecretsof0000mala). Megabites. DK Children. ISBN 978-0-78947976-
1.
34. Wikipedia's Article on the Mummy Juanita

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35. Ganeri, Anita; Martell, Hazel Mary; Williams, Brian (2007). World History Encyclopedia: A
Complete and Comprehensive Guide to the History of the World (https://archive.org/details/wor
ldhistoryency0000gane_b5s5). Parragon. ISBN 978-1-40549120-4.
36. Janssens PA (October 1957). "Medical Views on Prehistoric Representations of Human
Hands" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1034309). Med Hist. 1 (4): 318–22.
doi:10.1017/s0025727300021499 (https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fs0025727300021499).
PMC 1034309 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1034309). PMID 13476920 (htt
ps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/13476920). Pages 318–21 are of particular interest in this
subject
37. "Prehistoric Medicine" (http://www.educationforum.co.uk/prehistoricmedicine.htm). History
GCSE / History of Medicine Lessons. Education Forum. Retrieved 5 April 2021.

External links
Sem, Tatyana. "Shamanic Healing Rituals" (http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/changing/jo
urney/healing.html). Russian Museum of Ethnography.

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