The mummification of an Egyptian maiden more than 1,500 years ago has once again drawn attention to ancient childbirth. The discovery of two fetuses in the mummy of a 17-year-old girl, one stuck in the birth canal and the other in the chest cavity, gave a more intuitive understanding of the difficulties and dangers of childbirth in ancient times. The teenage girl's mummy, unearthed in 1908 at the Baghavat cemetery in Egypt, was found between 14 and 17 years old and buried with the decapitated baby.
Through CT scans of the mummies, the researchers found that one baby's head was stuck in her birth canal and another fetus was stuck in her chest cavity. This discovery gives a more intuitive understanding of the hardships of childbirth in ancient times. According to the research team at George Washington University, this discovery proves the dangers of childbirth in ancient times. Childbirth in ancient Egypt was seen as a religious rather than a medical activity, and the lack of support for modern medical technology led to many complications and dangers of childbirth.
The team also noted that the mummy's internal organs were mummified along with the baby, a process in which the diaphragm and connective tissue dissolved, allowing the fetus to move up to the chest. This process demonstrates how dangerous and difficult childbirth was in ancient times. It is important to note that although childbirth in ancient Egypt was considered a religious activity, this does not mean that there is a lack of awareness of the dangers of childbirth. On the contrary, the ancient Egyptians had a deep awareness of the dangers of childbirth, as evidenced by the salt cover on the mummies.
The Harga Oasis played a vital role in the economy and military of ancient Egypt, which also gives us more clues about the lives of the people of ancient Egypt. The discovery of the mummy gives us a more intuitive understanding of the difficulties and dangers faced by the ancient Egyptian people during childbirth, and this discovery is of great significance for our understanding of the lifestyle of ancient societies. Through the study of mummies, we can have a deeper understanding of the difficulties and dangers of childbirth in ancient times, and we can also feel the lifestyle of ancient societies more intuitively.
Overall, this discovery gives us a deeper understanding of what ancient childbirth is all about. The people of ancient Egypt faced many difficulties and dangers in the absence of modern medical technology. This discovery not only enriches our understanding of ancient societies, but also makes us appreciate the convenience and safety brought by modern medical technology even more.