Prehistoric Medicine

Question 1

Background Information

Answer 1

1. ) Nomadic Lives
2. ) Hunter-gatherer = Didn’t grow crops
3. ) Left no written records
4. ) Historians= Relied on Archaeological Evidence
5. ) Low life expectancy

Question 2

Problems with Archaeology + How people lived

Answer 2

1.) Skeletons–> Don’t tell everything
2.) Bones–> Damaged–> Excavation
3.) Few sites contained skeletons 1.) Decayed 2.) Buried elsewhere
4.) Evidence= Difficult to interpret
5.) Skeletons–> Might not represent populace which used to live there
How people lived:
1.) Moved around a lot
2.) No language

Question 3

Solutions to Prehistory

Answer 3

1. ) Looking at other hunter gatherer societies
2. ) Info from Egypt + Rome
3. ) Artifacts: Skulls, Bones, Cave-paintings

Question 4

Natural Beliefs + Treatments

Answer 4

Trephining: Cutting holes–> head

1. ) Survived–> Bone grew back
2. ) Released spirits + Powers of communication

Medicine Men= Dealt with spirits
Woman= Everyday Health

Question 5

Supernatural Beliefs + Treatments

Answer 5

1.) Prehistoric people–> Everyone= spirit = why we become ill
2.) Feel ill: Spirit removed, or enters whilst asleep
3.) Wore lucky charms–> ward away evil
4.) Chanting/ Dancing
Medicine Men= Hunt for pointing stick. Throw stick in water= released