In 1971, a sealed ancient Egyptian coffin was brought to the Rosenkreuz Museum in California, inside which lay a well-preserved mummy, which was once the body of a very noble Egyptian.
So more than two decades ago, a group of scientists made a shocking discovery: almost 2,600 years ago, a surgical operation was performed at an incredibly high level of complexity for those times. In the left knee of the mummy, they found a 23 cm long orthopedic pin made of metal.
He was implanted thanks to such complex biomechanical principles that are not inferior even to the most modern technologies.
Usermontu - mummy of unknown origin
When in the 70s the workers of the Rosenkreuz Museum received the sealed ancient Egyptian coffin, they did not know that there was still a mummy inside.
In addition, studies have shown that initially the sarcophagus belonged to another mummy - named Yuzermont ("the might of Montu") - and then, many years after his death, another mummy was placed in Yuzermont's coffin.
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However, a new mummy of unknown origin became known as the original master of the sarcophagus.
An analysis of the embalming procedure showed that Yuzermontu was a man from the top of the ancient Egyptian society and lived during the New Kingdom (the period between the 16th and 11th centuries BC). The length of the mummified body is 1.5 m, there are traces of red hair.
Shocking discovery
In August 1995, Professor Wilfred Griggs of Brigham Young University in Utah, together with a team of experts, x-rayed six mummies (including the Usermont mummy) from the Rosenkreuz Museum in San Jose.
This was done before he gave a lecture there. Experts were amazed when X-rays showed that a 23 cm long metal pin was inserted into the left knee of one of the mummies.
Antiquity or Modernity?
According to representatives of Brigham Young University, it is impossible to find out if the metal pin belonged to antiquity, using only X-rays. Therefore, Professor Griggs suggested that the pin could have been implanted at a much closer time to us in order to reattach the leg to the rest of the body.
“Then I assumed that the post was not made in ancient times and thought that we could find out how the post was implanted in the leg, and also perhaps even find out how long ago this operation was done,” Grigg said in the report. published by Brigham Young University, "I just thought it was an interesting remark:" Someone took an ancient mummy and put a modern pin in its leg to keep it from falling apart."
A group of experts including (from left to right) Prof. Griggs, physicians B. McLiff and R. Jackson from Utah, and Dr. G. Jeter from California, examine the mummy in whose knee Griggs found a pin.
Uncover the secret
To find out the pin's origin, Griggs, Dr. Richard T. Jackson, an orthopedic surgeon in Provo, and Dr. E. Bruce McLiffe, head of radiology at Utah Regional Medical Center, carefully drilled a hole in the bone for a tiny camera to examine the pin and take bone samples. and metal.
The team found traces of ancient organic rubber, similar to modern bone glue, as well as traces of ancient fats and tissue fibers that (thanks to this rubber) were still firmly fixed in place. Additional research has shown that a high-level medical procedure was performed in ancient times, about 2,600 years ago.
High class orthopedic procedure
The team of researchers was amazed that the post was designed according to the same principles that are used in the modern world to fix bones.
“We admire the fact that ancient Egypt was able to create a post according to the biomechanical principles that we still use today, such as for rigid fixation of the bone,” says Dr. Richard Jackson. “It exceeded our expectations.”
Brigham Young University officials say the post has “a sharp hooked end for better implantation into the femur - the exact same biomechanical techniques used today. The other end of the pin, located in the tibia, has three "teeth" that prevent the position of the pin from shifting in the bone."
Before or after death?
Everyone was tormented by one question related to this remarkable discovery: the operation was carried out when Yuzermontu was alive, or after his death.
Exhaustive research revealed that the plate was inserted between Usermont's death and his funeral. The ancient Egyptians believed in physical resurrection after death, in which the body was the vehicle for the soul in the afterlife. Thus, the insurance of the integrity of the body was of the greatest importance. Griggs also added that the Egyptians believed it was important for the resurrection of the body and spirit to ensure that the body was in good condition.
While this is the first time a metal plate has been operated on, there are other examples of body care prior to mummification: healing wounds, working on teeth, making dentures.
A 3,000-year-old finger prosthesis. It was sewn after the death of the owner of the body. The exhibit is in the Cairo Egyptian Museum
"It's incredible that the person who created the pin had the idea like that," Griggs said.
"History shows us how advanced ancient society really was," Griggs said. "Sometimes the arrogance in our culture prevents us from realizing that people from other cultures who lived in different times were also able to think and create in the most amazing ways."