More about their findings will be released in the November issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
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Dr. Qian Wang, professor in biomedical sciences at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, identified what he and other researchers believe is likely one of the first examples of an ancient nose amputation. It’s from the skull of a woman who lived in central China about 700 years ago.
Ancient legal texts describe nose and limb amputations as forms of criminal punishment, along with decapitation, facial inking/tattooing and castration, according to Wang.
The Yuan Dynasty, which ran from about 1271 to 1368, cut off the noses of those convicted of stealing horses, cattle or other high-value livestock or for repeat theft offenses of lesser livestock. It also was used as punishment for other serious crimes.
Texts document thousands of cases, but this is likely the only known physical evidence of nose amputation, said biological anthropologist Wang.
