Believe it or not, prosthetic eyes have been around for thousands of years. Besides improving the appearance of patients requiring artificial eyes, prosthetic eyes also prevent tissue in the eye socket from overgrowing and prevent foreign debris from entering the eye without a bandage or eye patch. Although prosthetics may seem like a recent medical development, they actually have one of the oldest origins in the history of medicine. For example, the world’s oldest prosthetic eye was discovered in Iran’s “Burned City” in 2006. Archaeologists determined that the eye dates back to around 2900-2800 BC and was found still lodged in the eye sockets of a woman’s skull.
The discovery of this eye reveals the ancient history of prosthetics including eyes, legs and arms. The detailed craftsmanship of the eye also reveals early ideas about light, vision, and the purpose of prosthetics. By analyzing the structure, location and purpose of ancient prosthetics, we can deduce more about the City of Burnt itself and how this creation shaped medical advancement over time. any.
The world’s oldest prosthetic eye was discovered in the “Burned City” in Iran in 2006 and it dates back to 2900-2800 BC! (Pigorini National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnology)
Iran’s burnt city and the oldest prosthetic eye ever
Shahr-e Sukhteh is the archaeological site of an ancient Bronze Age urban settlement in what is now southeastern Iran. The site is known as the “Burnt City” because much of the city was destroyed by multiple fires starting around 3200 BC. Due to the age of artifacts discovered at the site, archaeologists believe the city was abandoned around 2350 BC, although it is unclear whether fire was the ultimate reason for its destruction. Is the street suddenly abandoned?
Many excavations have been carried out in Burnt City since 1997. Famous discoveries from the site include an ancient dice game, a skull showing ancient brain surgery, a stone cup marble and a piece of decorated leather from the Bronze Age. However, the most interesting discovery was the world’s oldest known prosthetic eye in 2006. The eye was found in the remains of a woman estimated to be 6 feet tall and physical evidence from the eyes confirm that it was worn throughout her life. Than was brought in after her death. They estimated that the woman was between 25 and 30 years old at the time of her death.
Archaeologists who discovered the fake eyes said the fake eyes were made from a mixture of natural resin and animal fat, capable of retaining moisture and being durable during use 4,800 years ago. Those who study the eye are fascinated by the craftsmanship that goes into every detail. The eye has individual capillaries drawn with gold wire less than half a millimeter thick. A circular pupil is engraved at the front with parallel lines drawn around it to form a diamond-shaped iris. Two holes with gold wires were found on either side of the artificial eyeball, which illustrates how the eye could be inside the eye socket. This soft gold wire will make insertion gentle while still providing the support needed to keep the eye from falling out. They can also help the eye move smoothly within the eye socket.
Those who studied the eye deduced that it had been worn while the woman was still alive because the preserved eyelid tissue had adhered to the eye. They also found evidence from this and surrounding tissue on the woman’s skull that she may have developed an abscess on her eyelid because it rubbed against the artificial eye when she blinked.
Archaeologists have found many clay pots, decorative beads, and jewelry in the ancient woman’s tomb. They also found a leather case and a bronze mirror, both of which were still in good condition. These discoveries lead archaeologists to believe that this woman had a high social status and was probably a member of the royal family.
Only individuals with important social status had such ornate jewelry, clay, leather, and bronze. This also supports her reason for having a prosthetic eye. If she is in a position of power or high level, she will need the eye to maintain her appearance and will be one of the few people with the financial resources necessary to customize a suitable artificial eye. suits me.
Artificial eyes or artificial eyes have been around since around 2800 BC and they are still manufactured today for the same purpose. (Maximum Tactics/Adobe Stock)
From tar, to gold, to glass, to acrylic
Details of the workmanship of the prosthetic eye discovered show that the creator had a deep understanding of eye anatomy. From the thin layer of gold representing the iris to the smallest blood vessels illustrated by the gold wire, the eye is designed to be elegant yet precise for the wearer. In addition to these details, some white patches were found on the white part of the eye, which suggests that the eye was once delicately painted to realistically illustrate an eye.
Other details about the eye led archaeologists to conclude that the eye was handmade in Burnt City, rather than manufactured elsewhere and imported. This tells us that at some point in Burnt City’s history, visual health was studied by medical and craft experts. This focus may have led to other medical advances in the treatment of eye diseases such as infections or urban blindness, although additional evidence of this has not yet been found.
The development of artificial eyes in other areas was somewhat different from the eye discovered in Burnt City. In 16th-century France, surgeons made artificial eyes out of gold and silver to wear on the front or back of the eyelids. Shakespeare mentioned eyes made of glass in King Lear in 1606. By the 1800s, enameled artificial eyes were attractive but not durable, and advances continued until today’s artificial eyes, made made of hard acrylic, a durable plastic material.
Prosthetics have certainly come a long way since the time tar eyes and tallow were found in Burnt City. However, analysis of that eye still reveals an impressive ancient understanding of eye anatomy, which is fascinating when thinking about ancient Iran. As medical knowledge advances, perhaps one day we may see even more durable and effective prosthetics for those who need them.
