Men's Legs Were Severed as Punishment in China 2,500 Years Ago
In a remarkable and gruesome discovery, researchers have unearthed two 2,500-year-old skeletons in China with their legs amputated—a stark testament to the brutal punishment methods of ancient times. This finding offers a rare glimpse into the harsh penal practices during the Eastern Zhou dynasty and highlights the severe consequences that elite individuals could face for their alleged crimes. Unearthing the Past The skeletons, found in an ancient graveyard in Henan province, belonged to two men who lived around 550 B.C., during the Warring States Period of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (770 to 256 B.C.). Both skeletons were unearthed inside two-layered coffins, accompanied by artifacts such as copper belt hooks, stone tablets, and pottery, indicating their high social status. These coffins were oriented in a north-south direction, a burial practice often reserved for individuals of significant social standing. Analyzing the Evidence Researchers employed various techniques,...
