Surgery Like This 30,000 Years Ago?..."Hua Tuo Would Cry"[Reading Science]

Discovery of Skeleton with Leg Amputation Surgery on Borunesia Island
Nature: "Sophisticated Surgical Procedures Existed in Ancient Times"

Human skeletal remains from the prehistoric era, dated 31,000 years ago, discovered on the island of Borneo, Indonesia. The precise cut marks suggest the result of surgical operation. Photo by Nature

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Hua Tuo, the legendary divine doctor in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. When Guan Yu was hit by a poisoned arrow, Hua Tuo performed miraculous surgical operations such as scraping the bone, earning the reputation as "China's first surgeon." This story dates back to the 200s AD. However, recent research has revealed that precise bone amputation surgeries were performed even in prehistoric times about 31,000 years ago. It was not that Hua Tuo was exceptional, but that humanity had possessed sophisticated medical treatment methods comparable to modern medicine since long ago.

The international academic journal Nature reported on the 8th a paper by an archaeological research team from the University of Western Australia detailing such findings. The team concluded that skeletal remains found in a limestone cave on the east side of Borneo Island, in the Sangkulirang-Mangkalihat Peninsula, showing signs of left leg amputation, belonged to a person who lived approximately 31,000 years ago. This is the oldest known case of surgical evidence discovered in archaeological excavations. The previous record was 20,000 years ago. In 2007, skeletal remains from the Neolithic period about 20,000 years ago were found in France, showing signs of amputation due to surgery. Nature stated, "This discovery suggests that some ancient people possessed skilled nursing techniques and were capable of sophisticated medical treatment much earlier than scientists had thought."

The research team excavated a nearly perfectly preserved skeleton, except for the left foot, from an ancient grave. Radiocarbon isotope analysis dated the skeleton to an individual who died at about 19 to 20 years of age approximately 30,714 to 31,201 years ago. Although the sex was not confirmed, the team’s analysis suggests it was male based on stature. Notably, the left leg of this skeleton was found with the lower third, between the tibia and fibula, cleanly amputated and missing. Furthermore, the condition of the bones indicates that the individual survived for at least several years after the surgery. The team pointed out, "Considering the state of the amputated area, it was not lost due to an accident or animal attack," and added, "There were no typical signs of infection on the bone, indicating that the wound was cleaned and protected from infection."