SCIENCE DAILY
The original toe held at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. University of Mnachester
Two artificial big toes — one found attached to the foot of an ancient Egyptian mummy — may have been the world’s earliest functional prosthetic body parts, says the scientist who tested replicas on volunteers.
University of Manchester researcher, Dr Jacky Finch, has shown that a three-part wood and leather artefact housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, along with a second one, the Greville Chester artificial toe on display in the British Museum, not only looked the part but also helped their toeless owners walk like Egyptians.
The toes date from before 600BC, predating what was hitherto thought to be the earliest known practical prosthesis — the Roman Capula Leg — by several hundred years.
Science Daily for more