Archaeologists from the UK have discovered the world's first complete human skeleton with metastatic cancer that dates back to 1200 BC.
The find was made by researchers from Durham University and the British Museum. The skeleton was found at the archaeological site of Amara West in northern Sudan, situated on the Nile and it is of an adult male estimated to be between 25-35 years old when he died.
The skeleton was examined by experts from Durham University and the British Museum using radiography and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), which resulted in clear imaging of the lesions on the bones. It showed cancer that had metastasised from soft tissue to the collar bones, shoulder blades, upper arms, vertebrae, ribs, pelvis and thigh bones. An underlying schistosomiasis infection, which is caused by parasites, is a possible explanation for the cancer in this individual, as the disease was present in Egypt and Nubia since at least 1500BC, and is now recognised as a cause of bladder cancer and breast cancer in men.
Even though cancer is one of the world’s leading causes of death today, it remains almost absent from the archaeological record compared to other medical conditions.
Lead author of the study, Michaela Binder, a PhD student at Durham University, excavated and examined the skeleton. She said: “Very little is known about the antiquity, epidemiology and evolution of cancer in past human populations apart from some textual references and a small number of skeletons with signs of cancer.
“Insights gained from archaeological human remains like these can really help us to understand the evolution and history of modern diseases.”
It is hoped that the discovery will help to provide further understanding of the underlying causes of cancer in ancient populations and provide insights into the evolution of cancer. Ancient DNA analysis of skeletons and mummies with evidence of cancer can be used to detect mutations in specific genes that are known to be associated with particular types of cancer.
Co-author, Dr Neal Spencer from the Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum, said: “From footprints left on wet mud floors, to the healed fractures of many ancient inhabitants, Amara West offers a unique insight into what it was like to live there – and die – in Egyptian-ruled Upper Nubia 3200 years ago.”
Michaela Binder added: “Through taking an evolutionary approach to cancer, information from ancient human remains may prove a vital element in finding ways to address one of the world’s major health problems.”
The findings are reported in the academic journal PLOS ONE.