Roger Forshaw, BChD, LDSRCS, DGDP, MSc, PhD

I have a background in dental surgery having qualified at Leeds University before entering general practice. Later I studied Egyptology at Exeter University and then at the University of Manchester where I obtained an MSc in Biomedical Egyptology and a PhD in Egyptology.

At present I am an honorary lecturer at the KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology at the University of Manchester where I teach biological anthropology and Egyptology. I am researching into health, disease and healing practices in ancient cultures and have published a number of papers on ths topic. A recent publication is The role of the lector in ancient Egyptian society.

Dental Health and Disease in Ancient Egypt

In ancient Egypt the exceptionally dry climate together with the unique burial customs has resulted in the survival of large numbers of well-preserved skeletal and mummified remains. Examinations of these remains together with an analysis of the surviving documentary, archaeological and ethnographic evidence has enabled a detailed picture of the dental health of these ancient people to be revealed, perhaps more so than for any other civilisation in antiquity. I am particularly interested in computerised tomography (CT) scanning of the oral structures of mummified remains as the evaluation of these images helps to provide further information previously not accessible. I have recently broadened this study to research dental care in the ancient world.

Healing in Ancient Egypt

Research into disease and healing therapies in ancient Egypt involves the study of many aspects of its civilisation, such as the scientific investigation of mummified and skeletal remains supplemented by an analysis of textual sources and artistic representations. My interest lies in analysing the textual sources, chiefly the medical papyri, to further our understanding of ancient Egyptian healing practices.

The Lector in Ancient Egypt

My doctoral research attempted to better define the role of the lector in ancient Egyptian society. I am expanding this study by further analysing the equipment that a lector may have used in the course of his daily work in order to provide further information relating to these activities.