244. A Possible Case of Amputation, Dated to c. 2000 B. C.

Brothwell, Don; Moller-Christensen, V.

doi:10.2307/2797495

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Scenes from the temple of Ramses III at Luxor (ca. 1200 bc ) and the Temple of Karnak (1223–1211 bc ) show the practice of counting prisoners of war by counting their chopped off hands (Brothwell & Moller‐Christensen, ) . This procedure was also used to count the dead of a battle (Bloom et al, ).…”

Section: Possible Explanations For Amputations In Archaeological Contmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A 6000‐Year‐Old Hand Amputation from Bulgaria—The Oldest Case from South‐East Europe?

Zäuner

Wahl

Boyadziev

et al. 2011

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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A skeleton from Tell Yunatsite in Bulgarian Thrace shows evidence of amputation of the right hand. The individual dates back to the end of the fifth millennium, connecting it to the Late Copper Age of that region. The Chalcolithic settlement on the tell ended immediately after a bellicose assault. Therefore, the question arose if the loss of the hand may be connected with this incidence. Anthropological studies in close collaboration with the archaeologists on site made clear that the abscission took place at an earlier time. This result led to a series of complex questions. These are described in this work. We will show that a congenital origin for the loss of the hand can be excluded, and that the individual survived this severe injury for a certain time span. Several possible explanations for an amputation are discussed. It turns out that a surgical intervention seems to be the most likely reason. It becomes clear that there must have been an excellent medical knowledge in the Copper Age concerning surgery and wound treatment. Furthermore, the survival of the handicapped individual documents a certain social cohesion.

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Section: Possible Explanations For Amputations In Archaeological Contmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These mentioned cases concern the upper arm. Additional examples of forearm amputations are reported from Egypt in 2000 bc (Brothwell & Moller‐Christensen, ) and from Israel in 1600 bc (Bloom et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 6000‐Year‐Old Hand Amputation from Bulgaria—The Oldest Case from South‐East Europe?

Zäuner

Wahl

Boyadziev

et al. 2011

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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“…Although therapeutic amputation for non-union has never been proven, Möller-Christensen reported a possible case of amputation from ancient Egypt, with subsequent stump healing of the distal right forearm, dated to circa 2000 BC (61,62). In his report Möller-Christensen, although not discarding the theory of therapeutic amputation, preferred the explanation that the amputation was a form of punishment rather than injury from warfare.…”

Section: Proto-surgery Of Traumamentioning

confidence: 99%

Proto-Surgery in Ancient Egypt

Sullivan

1998

Acta Med. (Hradec Kralove, Czech Repub.)

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This article investigates the evidence we have for the existence of proto-surgery in ancient Egypt during the Dynastic Period (c.3200 - 323 BC). Climate and chance have preserved medical literature as well as paleoarcheological specimens and these artefacts, along with extant Greek and Roman treatises appear to support the conclusion that protosurgery was practised in ancient Egypt (the prefix proto- designates an original or early form). Elements of proto-surgical development including analgesia and sedation, the incision, trephination, proto-surgery of trauma, mythical proto-surgery and antisepsis, drawing on primary sources, surviving artefacts and modern commentary are discussed. Where appropriate comparisons are made with proto-surgery in ancient Mesopotamia and the Bronze Age Aegean.

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“…Lower limb amputations are found in Europe (Stuckert & Kricun, 2011), Egypt (Dupras, Williams, de Meyer, et al, 2010), and America (Verano et al, 2000; Więckowski, 2016). Amputations found in archeological contexts are usually caused by traumatic incidents, surgeries, rituals, and penalties (e.g., Bloom et al, 1995; Brothwell & Møller‐Christensen, 1963; Buquet‐Marcon et al, 2007; Dupras, Williams, de Meyer, et al, 2010; Mavroforou et al, 2014; Verano et al, 2000; Zäuner et al, 2013). However, it remains a challenge to differentiate the actual causes of ancient amputations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A case of well‐healed foot amputation in early China (8th–5th centuries BCE)

Zhang

Zhan

Ding

et al. 2021

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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This research is intended to report on a case of healed foot amputation in Central Plains, China, and to provide a differential diagnosis on the amputation. The material used is an adult skeleton, dating back to 8th-5th Centuries BCE, from Chongpingyuan site, Shaanxi, China. The methods used are macroscopic observations, microscope, and X-ray. Macroscopic observations indicated that the individual of interest was probably a male, around 50 to 70 years old, with a stature around 168.51 cm. Nearly one third of the distal end of his left tibia and fibula was absent, and the surface was remodeled with obvious signs of healing. Meanwhile, this individual suffered from osteoarthritis, lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, and several oral pathologies. Osteoarthritis was more profoundly found on the right limbs. Yue penalty (刖刑), which is often seen on scripts and artifacts in Bronze Age China, was an explanation for this amputation, while surgery amputation or traumatic incident cannot be entirely excluded. Contemporary images and artifacts of amputees suggested the usage of crutches. The social status and possibility of punitive amputation lead to the argument that this individual was unlikely to receive positive treatments after amputation. This study supplements the current research of ancient amputation in early China and provides an opportunity to look at the penal system and medical knowledge of the Zhou Dynasty. The absence of cutting marks left a questionable point with regards to the tools used for amputations.

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244. A Possible Case of Amputation, Dated to c. 2000 B. C.

Cited by 17 publications

References 0 publications

A 6000‐Year‐Old Hand Amputation from Bulgaria—The Oldest Case from South‐East Europe?

A 6000‐Year‐Old Hand Amputation from Bulgaria—The Oldest Case from South‐East Europe?

Proto-Surgery in Ancient Egypt

A case of well‐healed foot amputation in early China (8th–5th centuries BCE)

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