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Social History of Medicine 2004 17(1):3-21; doi:10.1093/shm/17.1.3
© 2004 by Society for the Social History of Medicine
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Roman Medical Instruments: Archaeological Interpretations of their Possible ‘Non-functional’Uses

Patricia Baker1

1 Lecturer in Archaeology, School of European Culture and Languages, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NF, UKE-mail: p.a.baker-3{at}kent.ac.uk

Roman medical tools have traditionally been defined by scholars in accordance with what has been written about them in the classical medical tests. Yet, other possible functions, as well as meanings and feelings related to them that have not been recorded in the literature, have never been explored. It is important to attempt to learn how people understood medical instruments because it can give us a greater insight into feelings about medical care in general. It is possible to learn these other uses and feelings through an examination of the archaeological context in which the instruments were found. Three case studies are examined to demonstrate associated meanings, such as a fear of pollution, and ‘non-functional’ or ‘non-rational’ uses of the instruments as votive offerings, demonstrating the complex and varied nature of Roman understandings of tools related to healing and ultimately illness.

Keywords: contextual archaeology; votive deposits; depositional practice; cultural understandings of the body; interdisciplinarity


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