Medical Care
As difficult as the labor was, the laborers had access to medical care. Archaeologists found broken bones that had been well set. Remains of an amputee show a skilled doctor did their surgery. The patient lived about 20 years after the operation. They showed evidence of degenerative arthritis in the vertebrae and knees and anemia. Skeletal remains show the earliest evidence of brain surgery to remove a brain tumor, according to Dr. Hawass. Another showed the earliest known case of syphilis. Other workers had bones set. Women showed evidence of assistance with birth complications. Slaves didn’t get this level of care, according to Dr. Hawass. Nevertheless, the life span, even with decent medical attention, wasn’t long. Skeletal remains indicate the average worker buried in the Pyramid cities was about 30-35 years old when they died.