Woman’s skeleton reveals ancient Chinese punishment

Archaeologists in Henan province, China, discovered the skeleton of a woman who lived around 700 years ago and had her nose amputated.

Researchers examined remains from a cemetery uncovered during construction in 2018. They determined the woman was between 40 and 45 years old and lived during the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. CT scans of her skull showed clean cuts and healed bone, indicating her nose was removed during her lifetime and she survived for several years afterward.

Ancient Chinese legal texts documented cutting off a person’s nose as a punishment, specifically for theft of livestock or repeated offenses, but until now, there was no physical proof this practice occurred. The researchers believe the woman’s nose was likely removed as punishment, and isotope analysis suggests she had a low socioeconomic status and ate mostly millet.

They note she likely received medical care after the amputation, as she lived for years with the injury and may have used a prosthetic nose. The team also observed that the woman was buried face down, an unusual practice in the cemetery that may indicate she was ostracized by her community. While other explanations for the injury, like disease or accident, are possible, the researchers found no evidence to support them.

This skeleton represents the first known physical evidence of this specific punishment in ancient China and offers insight into how the ancient Chinese treated criminals.