Exploring the Past: The Earliest Recorded Surgical Amputation Was 31,000 Years Ago

A child who lived on the Indonesian island of Borneo around 31,000 years ago underwent the oldest known surgical operation, which was an amputation of their lower left leg. The surgery was conducted by one or more hunter-gatherers who had detailed knowledge of human anatomy and considerable technical skill, which enabled the child to avoid fatal blood loss and infection. The healed bone where the lower leg was amputated indicates that the ancient youth survived for at least six to nine years after the surgery before dying at the age of 19 or 20.

There is no evidence of crushing from an accident or an animal bite at the amputation site, leading the researchers to suspect that an unidentified medical problem led to the operation.

This discovery represents the oldest known amputation, with the previous oldest being a farmer from France whose left forearm was surgically removed nearly 7,000 years ago. In North Africa, surgeries to create skull openings may have occurred as early as 13,000 years ago. It is unknown what type of tool was used in the ancient operation on Borneo or whether the patient was sedated with a plant-based concoction.

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