The Archaeology of Medicine in the Greco-Roman World

This book teaches students and scholars of Greco-Roman medical history how to use and critically assess archaeological materials.

Patricia A. Baker (Author)

9780521194327, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 September 2013

203 pages, 15 b/w illus. 1 map 4 tables
26 x 18.3 x 1.8 cm, 0.71 kg

'There is no other book which collects together the archaeological evidence relevant to the study of ancient medicine in this way against a critical methodological background; and it will do doubt find its way on to a good number of course bibliographies.' Rebecca Flemming, Social History of Medicine

This book teaches students and scholars of Greco-Roman medical history how to use and critically assess archaeological materials. Ancient medicine is a subject dominated by textual sources, yet there is a wealth of archaeological remains that can be used to broaden our understanding of medicine in the past. In order to use the information properly, this book explains how to ask questions of an archaeological nature, how to access different types of archaeological materials, and how to overcome problems the researcher might face. It also acts as an introduction to the archaeology of medicine for archaeologists interested in this aspect of their subject. Although the focus is on the Greco-Roman period, the methods and theories explained within the text can be applied to other periods in history. The areas covered include text as material culture, images, artifacts, spaces of medicine, and science and archaeology.

1. Introduction
2. Background to archaeological theories and methods
3. Text as material culture
4. Images
5. Small finds
6. Spaces of healing
7. Scientific archaeology: skeletal and medical remains
8. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX], History of medicine [MBX], Classical Greek & Roman archaeology [HDDK], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]