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First Physical Evidence Found of Ancient Chinese Nose Amputation Punishment

Archaeologists in China have discovered a 700-year-old skeleton providing the first physical proof of nose amputation, a punishment historically documented for cattle theft.

3 publishers · 3 articles · first seen 17 Sept 2026 · updated 7h ago

How it unfolded

Every source in the order it published.

  1. New ScientistAncient skeleton shows woman in imperial China had her nose amputated
  2. Phys.org - latest science and technology news storiesMedieval Chinese skeleton may reveal first evidence of a brutal punishment
  3. South China Morning PostChinese scientists find first evidence of ancient nose-chopping punishment for cattle thieves

Sources

Every article we clustered into this story. Headlines link to the publisher.

  1. Chinese scientists find first evidence of ancient nose-chopping punishment for cattle thieves South China Morning Post
  2. Medieval Chinese skeleton may reveal first evidence of a brutal punishment Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories
  3. Ancient skeleton shows woman in imperial China had her nose amputated New Scientist

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