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| Figure 1: Ovarian teratoma found at Armana (Source: A. Deblauwe) |
The study of the dead can yield a wealth of information about people of the past. While archaeological investigations focus on the material culture (the items created/manipulated and used by humans), bioarchaeological research goes one step further by combining the study of human remains with archaeological evidence (artifacts) to provide a holistic understanding of the human experience in the past. Today’s blog post addresses how the bioarchaeological approach has provided new evidence concerning ovarian teratomas and ancient Egyptian beliefs.
In 2023 Gretchen Dabbs, Melinda King Wetzel, and Anna Stevens published their analysis of an 18 to 21-year-old female who resided at the site of Armana in Egypt in 1345 BC. The site had been the capital during Pharaoh Akhenaton’s rule, which ushered in various changes throughout Egypt. This is in part why the site is studied, but what Dabbs, Wetzel, and Stevens ultimately published on was both unrelated and unexpected. During an excavation of a multichambered tomb, the final resting place for non-elite individuals, Wetzel, an archaeologist, noticed something atypical while carefully excavating the mortuary contexts of the aforementioned female. She noticed a tooth in the pelvic area, which she initially assumed belonged to a fetus. When she brought the discovery to Dabbs’ attention a different conclusion began to take shape. Dabbs, a bioarchaeologist, realized the advanced maturation of the teeth, which were permanent (adult) teeth, ruled out the presence of a fetus.
A more thorough investigation took place, relying on the contextual evidence available to them. Careful excavation procedures and detailed documentation ruled out the presence of another individual’s skeletal remains being comingled (mixed in) with the deceased female’s remains. Examination of the teeth and their location within the female’s body, specifically near or at the location of where an ovary would have been present, led the researchers to conclude that these teeth were part of an ovarian osteoma (Figure 1). Such tumors are masses of hard and soft tissues, including bones, teeth, and sometimes parts of organs. They are found within the ovaries or testes, and while benign they can cause discomfort, pain, and infertility. This particular osteoma was about an inch in size. The evaluation of the grave goods, particularly a ring present on the female’s hand that laid to rest on her hip, suggested this osteoma may have been painful and prevented her from conceiving children. This conclusion was reached based on the presence of the goddess Bes on the ring. This Egyptian deity was associated with fertility, and the deceased female may have worn the ring inscribed with Bes to alleviate her pain and encourage pregnancy.
While this discovery is remarkable in and of itself it is
even more so since this is only one of five such discoveries made thus
far. Three osteomas had been discovered
in European contexts and another was found in Peru. This osteoma predates the previous four, making
it the oldest documented osteoma. It is
also the first documented case in Egyptian contexts and the first found on the African
continent. Furthermore, the archaeological evidence provides more information concerning medical and ideological practices among Egyptians in the 14th century BCE.
Bibliography
Cassella, Carly. "Scientists Find a Tumor Made of Teeth in The Pelvis of an Ancient Egyptian." 13 November 2023. Science Alert. Electronic. 8 August 2024.
Dabbs, Gretchen R., Anna Stevens and Melinda King Wetzel. "A mature ovarian teratoma from New Kingdom Amarna, Egypt." International Journal of Paleopathology (2023): 99-105. Print.
Jackson, Justin. "Ancient Egyptian burial reveals ovarian teeth in oldest example of teratoma." 9 November 2023. Phys.org. Electronic. 8 August 2024.
Killgrove, Kristina. "Rare tumor with teeth discovered in Egyptian burial from 3,000 years ago." 7 November 2023. Live Science. Electronic. 8 August 2024.
3 comments:
This article was very interesting to me because it highlighted how bio archaeological methods can bring new insights to those in the past. I was particularly surprised to learn that ovarian teratomas were found in the body of a woman who lived in Armana, Egypt in 1345 BC. It was also interesting to learn that this discovery was the first case of ovarian teratoma in Egypt or on the African continent and the oldest record of ovarian teratoma in the world.
I find it fascinating that the blog describes the bioarchaeological discovering of an ovarian teratoma from ancient Egypt. I've learnt that the tumor, containing teeth, is the oldest documented case of its kind and offers insights into both the medical and cultural practices of the time. This discovery not only enriches our understanding of ancient Egyptian health but also demonstrates the unique ability of bioarchaeology to link biological evidence with cultural beliefs.
Hats off to Dabbs, Wetzel, and Stevens, this read was an interesting blend of medical insight and cultural understanding. They found an ovarian teratoma—essentially a benign tumor containing teeth—in the remains of a young woman from Amarna, dating back to 1345 BC. This makes it the oldest known case of its kind. What’s particularly intriguing is the context of her burial; she wore a ring featuring the fertility goddess Bes, suggesting that her health issues may have influenced her societal role and beliefs about fertility. This finding not only sheds light on ancient medical conditions but also on how Egyptians understood and approached health and illness.
Okolo Kayuuyor
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