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A set of six Roman medical instruments, originally found in London 125 years ago, has undergone scanning at the University of Exeter using state-of-the-art scientific technology.
The artefacts were recovered from a site along the Walbrook River, a now-buried tributary of the Thames whose waterlogged conditions have preserved a wealth of significant Roman finds (see CA 280). Recent discoveries include around 400 wooden writing tablets (CA 317), which were excavated by Museum of London Archaeology and are now displayed in the Bloomberg Space, which also houses the remains of the London Mithraeum (CA 334), but Roman objects – often in metal – have been recovered from this location at least since the 19th century.
The assemblage of implements scanned at the University of Exeter – consisting of two probes, a spoon, two needles, and a bronze scalpel handle – are from the collection of the Devon & Exeter Medical Heritage Trust (DEMHT), and caught the attention of Professor Rebecca Flemming, who immediately decided to investigate them further as part of her research into ancient medicine, and the implements and substances used in medical practices from this period.
The instruments were brought to the university’s Science, Heritage, and Archaeology Digital 3D (SHArD 3D) Laboratory by one of the DEMHT curators, where they were examined using a CT scanner. Due to the fragility of the objects, some of which are corroded, each was carefully mounted on an individual foam stay to support them while they were being scanned: this protected the artefacts while still allowing for the production of a high-quality image.
The tools were scanned vertically, perpendicular to the X-ray source, to allow for an even exposure to radiation, and they were imaged simultaneously, in order to reduce the overall scan duration so that the objects spent as little time in the lab as possible.
Due to the 3D nature of CT scanning, both the external surface and the internal structures of the instruments were produced as digital models at a resolution of 0.05mm. Each object was then isolated using imaging algorithms so that individual digital files could be exported for further analysis. These files have also been used for 3D printing, producing replicas that can be utilised in teaching and public engagement. In this way, students and the public can have hands-on experience of artefacts without putting the delicate originals at risk.
By scanning the objects, researchers can also reveal much more about their design, manufacture, and usage, which has until now been hidden beneath the corroded surface layers of the instruments. Details on the bronze scalpel handle, for example, revealed the attention that had been devoted to creating the socket where the original iron blade would have been set. Tiny scrolls were used to replace the blade, but show style as well as functionality.
Greek and Roman medical texts reveal the ways in which these instruments would have been used. The scalpel, for example, may have been used in bloodletting, a standard therapeutic practice in the ancient world. The Romans believed that most medical issues were caused by an excess of one of the four ‘humours’ – phlegm, blood, black bile, and yellow bile. A balance of these was key, and by reducing the quantity of a humour that was thought to be in surfeit, a doctor could cure their patient.
The probe was most likely used to examine the body prior to surgery, for example exploring wounds, fistulae, and fractures. However, it could also have been utilised for procedures as simple as cleaning out patients’ ears. The needles could have been used to sew bandages, and the spoon was probably made for the purpose of mixing medicines and salves. Professor Flemming explained that these instruments have little variation across the Roman Empire, with examples from Italy, Britain, and Syria displaying the same diagnostic features. This reveals that the population of Roman Londinium had access to similar medical provision as other cities in the Empire.
Exeter’s SHArD 3D Lab was opened last year, with funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Creative Research Capability scheme. The lab is the first of its kind with a humanities- led focus in the South-west of England, allowing researchers to focus on scanning archaeological and cultural material for research and engagement purposes.
Carly Ameen, Lecturer in Bioarchaeology in the Department of Archaeology and History, and Director of the Lab, explained the impact of the work that can be achieved there: ‘Bringing scientific techniques to bear on historical remains and putting that data into conversation with other evidence is crucial for developing our knowledge of the past.’ The Lab team hope to engage in future collaborations in the field, and new techniques and digital technologies are in the works for application on various ancient objects.
Text: Rebecca Preedy / Image: University of Exeter
