Archaeologists sifting through the desert sands near Cairo have discovered the oldest known tomb of a surgeon of the Pharoah, dating back more than 4,000 years, a top Egyptian antiquities official said on Tuesday. "For the first time, a discovery has been made of a doctor`s tomb dating back 4,200 years," said Zahi Hawass, antiquities chief in the Giza pyramids area.
"We found 30 surgical tools (inside the tomb) used by the ancient Egyptian doctor," he told Reuters at the site in Sakkara, near the Egyptian capital. Hawass said the grave of Skar, the chief physician of one of Egypt`s Fifth Dynasty rulers, contained bronze medical implements such as scalpels, needles and a type of spoon. He said the discovery would help scholars gain new insights into ancient medical techniques.
"Inside, this tomb has a number of beautiful scenes (on the walls) revealing the daily life (of the Fifth Dynasty) ...coloured in beautiful colours that are special to the Sakkara area," he said. Hawass said archaeologists also found an alabaster altar and 22 statues of different gods and goddesses inside the tomb