Though we may assume superstition and quack medicine were the only options available, the truth is far more interesting… Modern archaeology unearths long-buried traditions, arcane modes of healing, and medical enigmas.

From astrology and omens to ointments, sweat baths, and bloodletting, ancient treatments were dispensed with at times surprising results. Toxic antidotes and pirate medical chests, treatises on ancient acupuncture, and medical prescriptions etched into stone…relics reveal a stunning world of ancient healing practices.

During times of war and plague, patients rely on the careful hands of barber-surgeons who perform rudimentary surgeries. In the ruins of a Roman army hospital, traces of an empire intent on medical innovation come to light. From abracadabra to Ayurveda, ancient amputations, and toxic tinctures…unearthing ancient medical knowledge sheds light on how humans once sought to stay alive.