The Dead Really Do Tell Tales: Tracing Disease in Ancient Egypt

In previous lectures, we explored how the ancient Egyptians demonstrated a surprisingly advanced understanding of human anatomy and engaged in early forms of medical practice. Building on that foundation, this presentation delves into the physical evidence of disease and injury found in ancient Egyptian mummies.

This talk takes you behind the scenes of an actual archaeological excavation in Egypt through the Cairo University and Brown University Giza Expedition, where Dr. Steve served as part of the management team. We will examine a selection of mummies uncovered from the extensive cemeteries surrounding the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx.

Highlights include human skeletal remains that show signs of successful treatment for serious injuries, along with clear evidence of diseases such as tuberculosis, which still affect humans today.

About the Presenter: 

Stephen R. Phillips, Ph.D., is the Curatorial Research Coordinator in the Egyptian Section of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.  Dr. Phillips earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in the fields of biological anthropology, archaeology, and Egyptology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is listed with the Register of Professional Archaeologists. He has traveled extensively and participated in a wide range of archaeological excavations for more than 25 years, including fieldwork at Petra, Jordan; near Bordeaux in southwestern France; and in Egypt - at the Great Pyramids and at Saqqara. He is the Archaeological Site Supervisor and Biological Anthropologist for the Cairo University-Brown University Expedition in the Great Western Cemetery at Giza. He is also a professional guide for American tour groups to Egypt. Dr. Phillips specializes in the study of human origins, human skeletal biology, ancient Egyptian mummies and mummification, archaeology and Egyptology.