German archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery that sheds light on the advanced state of medicine in the Middle Ages. During utility work in the Bavarian town of Freising, about 40 kilometers north of Munich, they unearthed a century-old skeleton with a metal prosthetic hand.
Carbon dating indicates the man died between 1450 and 1620, making the prosthetic hand nearly 600 years old. The fingers of the man’s left hand had been amputated and the remains of the hand were surrounded by a hollow box made of iron and other metals.
Walter Irlinger, head of the conservation department of archaeological monuments in Bavaria, explains that the prosthetic hand added four fingers, which were individually formed from sheet metal and were immobile. The finger replicas were parallel to each other, slightly curved, and were probably attached to the stump with straps.
The discovery of bandage-like tissue inside the prosthetic hand suggests it was used to cushion the strain, providing further evidence of the sophisticated medical care available at the time.
Freising, the site of the discovery, was the scene of several battles during the Middle Ages and the Thirty Years’ War of 1618-1648, which may have contributed to the increase in the number of amputations and the subsequent development of prostheses .
Although similar prostheses from the same time period have been found in Central Europe, the intricate craftsmanship of the Freising hand sets it apart. It joins a collection of remarkable archaeological finds, including a 3,000-year-old wooden prosthetic toe discovered in Egypt in 1997, which was worn by a priest’s daughter and designed to enable walking maintaining a natural appearance.
This incredible discovery in Germany serves as a testament to the ingenuity and medical advancements of our ancestors, and offers a glimpse into the lives of those who lived centuries ago.
the mail A 600-year-old prosthetic hand discovered in Germany appeared first NewsGPT.ai.
English 
Español de Venezuela 