The reconstruction of the 5000-year-old woman discovered at the “Burnt City” showcases the remarkable advancements in anthropological and paleontological technology, as well as forensic techniques. Believed to have belonged to the upper echelons of society, she likely held the esteemed role of a priestess during her lifetime. What sets her apart is the fascinating discovery of an artificial eye still embedded in her skull after millennia, offering a captivating glimpse into ancient medical practices and the complexities of life in antiquity.
Shahr-i Sokhta, also known as The Burnt City, stands as a significant Bronze Age urban settlement in present-day southern Iran. Unveiling layers of history, excavations have revealed not only a ‘palace’ but also intricate industrial districts, residential quarters, and storage facilities. During the 2007-2008 excavation season, archaeologists delved into the cemetery and a craft area, unearthing 54 graves holding 56 individuals and a staggering array of 270 grave goods. Intriguingly, in one sector, only children and females were found, suggesting potential sex-based segregation. Moreover, the distinction in grave richness between different areas, like Square MJN and Square NGL, hints at a complex societal structure marked by status and wealth divisions. Despite challenges posed by poor preservation, ongoing research sheds light on the intriguing dynamics of this ancient community.
The journey to unravel mysteries
Grave 6705 is one of the most remarkable tombs, owing to the discovery of a prosthetic eye in her left eye socket. This artificial eye, made from bitumen and animal fat, is the earliest known example of such a device in the archaeological record, dating back to 2900-2800 BC.
Researchers have determined that the prosthetic eye belonged to a woman aged 25-30 from an elevated social stratum within the Burnt City community.
Notably, the woman’s burial site contained clay vessels, a leather bag, a bronze mirror, and assorted ornaments. Professor Michael Harris, an optometry expert from the University of California at Berkeley, remarked on the significance of these findings.
The incredibly astonishing characteristics of the prosthetic eye
The eyes are black, with a circular false cornea in the middle. Radiating from here eight equally spaced parallel lines are drawn around the pupil to form a diamond shape. small spots of white pigment suggest it may have been painted to resemble a real eye. Two holes at the sides of the “eye” helped hold it in iplace. Microscopic abrasions in the socket both where the eye would sit, and also where the thread would have been, show that she wore the prosthesis regularly, and for some considerable time. The eye socket of the woman however appears to have developed an abscess as a result fo constant contact with the prosthetic.
Insights into Ancient Views
Scholars theorize that the design of the prosthetic eye, featuring radiating lines akin to sun rays, might have been influenced by an emission theory, linking sight to the emission of light from the eye. Despite its non-functional nature, the presence of the prosthesis provides significant revelations about the ancient community’s ideals regarding beauty, identity, status, and disability. The woman interred with the artificial eye likely held a prominent social position, evident from the opulence of her grave goods and the scale of her burial plot.
