Punitive Amputation: Harsh Justice in Ancient China

A recent study has revealed that two skeletons from the Eastern Zhou dynasty in China had parts of their legs amputated as punishment for crimes. The researchers concluded that the men were aristocratic, and that amputation was a form of punishment prescribed by Chinese authorities during that time. The findings provide insight into the harsh penal system of ancient China and the varying forms of punishment meted out to different social classes.

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