The First Known Leg Amputation: A Glimpse into Ancient Surgery

Over 31,000 years ago, a young hunter-gatherer living in the forests of Borneo underwent what is now recognised as the earliest known leg amputation. The individual likely suffered a severe injury to the lower left leg that made survival impossible without the surgery. Despite lacking modern tools and medicine, a skilled and courageous surgeon performed the procedure, allowing the patient to survive for years.

The surgery likely did not take place in a sterile environment. It may have occurred inside a cave or outside, where sunlight provided enough light for the surgeon to work. The patient was probably awake and in pain, but may have been soothed with natural sedatives derived from local plants, as anaesthesia in the modern sense did not exist.

The surgeon had to act quickly yet carefully. Using sharp stones or primitive cutting tools, the surgeon cut through skin, muscle, and bone to remove the damaged portion of the leg. Controlling bleeding without modern tourniquets or clamps was difficult. The surgeon probably used plant fibres or pressure to slow down the blood flow.

After the amputation, the wounds required treatment to prevent infection. Infection was one of the greatest risks following surgery at that time and remains a concern today. The patient’s community likely applied herbal remedies and provided extensive care during the healing period.

The fact that an individual lived for several years following the amputation shows a remarkable level of medical knowledge and community support. This early surgery was not simply an act of desperation but a carefully performed procedure that saved a life.

In contrast, modern leg amputations differ greatly. Surgeons now use anaesthesia to eliminate pain and sterile instruments to reduce infection risk. Blood loss is managed with advanced techniques, and patients benefit from improved recovery times. Prosthetic technology helps many amputees regain mobility and a high quality of life.

This ancient amputation highlights the progress made in medicine over tens of thousands of years. What began as a dangerous and painful procedure performed with stones and plants has evolved into a precise surgical practice that restores function and independence.

Written by Ariela Okanta at Incisionary

APA References

DePeau-Wilson, M. (2022, September 7). Earliest Evidence of Surgery Found in Stone Age Amputation. Medpagetoday.com; MedpageToday. https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/100574

Magazine, S., & Handwerk, B. (2022, September 7). The Earliest Known Amputation Was Performed in Borneo 31,000 Years Ago. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earliest-known-amputation-was-performed-in-borneo-31000-years-ago-180980710/

Press, T. A. (2022, September 7). Amputation in a 31,000-year-old skeleton may be a sign of prehistoric medical advances. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2022/09/07/1121535411/31000-year-old-skeleton-amputation-surgery

PRICE, M. (2022, September 7). World’s Oldest amputation: Foot Removed 31,000 Years Ago—without Modern Antibiotics or Painkillers. Www.science.org. https://www.science.org/content/article/world-s-oldest-amputation-foot-removed-31-000-years-ago-without-modern-antibiotics-or

Stone Age surgery: the earliest evidence of amputation found. (2022, September 8). The University of Sydney. https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2022/09/08/stone-age-surgery-earliest-evidence-of-amputation-found-archaeology.html