Archaeologists surveying an ancient cemetery in Sanmexia, Henan Province, have uncovered the first known physical evidence of nasal amputation in ancient China, according to a study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. The discovery centers on a female skeleton displaying facial bone damage and healing around the nose, alongside unusual burial practices that point to criminal punishment dating back to historical records from as early as 2070 BCE.
Uncovering Ancient China’s Five Punishments in Sanmexia
Historical records note that ancient China enforced five types of physical penalties, scaling from permanent tattoos to the death sentence. According to the published paper, nasal amputation specifically served as a punishment for offenses such as livestock theft, desertion, or embezzlement. While these penalties appeared frequently in texts, researchers lacked physical proof until the 2018 excavation at the Henan Province site.
“I was surprised by this discovery,” study co-author Qian Wang told Gizmodo. Wang, a paleoanthropologist at Texas A&M University, noted that despite extensive documentation of the “Five Punishments,” scientists had not previously found scientific skeletal evidence for nasal amputation.
Post-Punishment Medical Management and Survival
Signs of healing and bone spurs surrounding the skeleton’s nose-sized holes confirm that the trauma occurred while the woman was alive and that she survived the procedure. Previous archaeological finds include two ancient Chinese skeletons with amputated legs, as well as historical figures like Han Dynasty historian Sima Qian, who reportedly survived castration to complete major historical texts. These precedents indicate that ancient practitioners utilized structured post-punishment medical management to control bleeding, prevent infection, and lower pain, according to Wang. Consequently, the Sanmexia individual received a level of medical and health care designed to increase survivability.
Did you know? Historical texts indicate that severe corporal punishments like nasal amputation were eventually phased out between the Yuan and Ming dynasties, though aspects of physical penalties persisted for centuries across various dynasties.
Burial Context and Research Hurdles
Beyond the skeletal trauma, the woman’s burial conditions separate her from typical community interments. Researchers found her buried face down with only a bronze hairpin, placed outside of a family or communal tomb. Wang explained that this arrangement likely signifies she was “cast away after death.” Investigators face distinct limitations in reconstructing her exact life details, as the grave lacked headstones or inscriptions, medical literature from the Yuan Dynasty remains sparse, and this skeleton currently stands as the sole known case of nasal amputation in China.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the Five Punishments in ancient China?
According to historical records cited in the study, the Five Punishments included permanent tattoos, nasal amputation, cutting off the backside of each foot, emasculation, and the death sentence.
How do researchers know the woman survived the nasal amputation?
Analysis of the facial skeleton revealed signs of healing and bone spurs around the nose-sized holes, confirming the injury happened during life and that the bone began to heal afterwards.
Why is this Sanmexia discovery significant?
According to the study authors, this find represents the first known archaeological evidence of nasal amputation in China, turning historical accounts into verifiable physical data.
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