egypt-museum:

3,000-Year-Old Wooden Toe Prosthetic Discovered on Egyptian Mummy

A single big toe is revealing significant information about ancient medicine.

That’s because the toe is a 3,000-year-old wooden prosthesis, which was found attached to a female mummy in an ancient Egyptian grave site. Researchers think the toe is one of the world’s oldest prosthetic devices. And now, further examination of the prosthesis has divulged even more information about the one-of-a-kind artifact and the time from which it came. Technologies like modern microscopy, X-rays and computer imaging enabled a team of researchers to determine the materials and method used to make the prosthetic.

For instance, their new research, which is still unpublished, found that the wooden toe was refitted several times. 

Based on the meticulous construction of the ancient prosthesis, the researchers determined the wearer — a priest’s daughter — wanted the toe to look natural and be comfortable to wear. Read more.