Made from wood and leather, it is one of the oldest prosthesis to ever be discovered.
The foot with the amputated toe belonged to a woman who was approximately 50 to 60 years of age when she died. The prosthetic toe was designed with a nail divot, which likely signifies that aesthetic was an important factor in wearing it, especially since Ancient Egyptians often wore sandals. The prosthetic also helped the woman with her balance when she walked.
According to Andrea Loprieno-Gnirs of the University of Basel:
“By using a sophisticated way of fixing the individual parts of the prosthesis to each other, the artificial limb had a balancing effect and gave, to some extent, a freedom of movement.”
“Based on our scientific examinations, our team was able to verify at least four materials used for manufacturing the prosthetic device. We could also determine two phases of refitting of the prosthesis during lifetime and identify signs of longer use.”
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