Chinese scientists find first evidence of ancient nose-chopping punishment for cattle thieves
After publishing: 1 headline quietly rewritten1 change
- Der Spiegel (Germany)seen 19 Sept, 21:19headline rewritten
Strafen im alten China: Forscher finden Skelett mit abgeschlagener NaseChina: Forscher finden Skelett mit abgeschlagener Nase
What it is about
Who published it, and when
How it spread - 2 original reports
Sat, 19 September 2026
2 reports- South China Morning Post02:00first to report
Stealing someone’s cattle is a serious crime, and in many places, the thief would end up in jail. However, ancient Chinese justice could result in a truly horrific form of mutilation: the amputation of the nose. This harsh consequence has been well-documented by historians as one of the infamous “five punishments” from the penal system of the Xia dynasty (2070 BC–1600 BC). Until now, no physical evidence of this punishment had been discovered. A team of researchers from China and the US...
- Der Spiegel (Germany)14:16edited after publishing
previously
Strafen im alten China: Forscher finden Skelett mit abgeschlagener NaseEin jahrhundertealter Schädel einer Frau aus China deutet auf eine grausame Art der Bestrafung hin. Offenbar wurde ihr die Nase amputiert. Und danach lebte sie weiter.