Medieval Chinese Woman’s Horrific Facial Punishment Revealed: What Dark Crime Did She Commit?

Qian Wang, Texas A&M University College of DentistryNose amputation was recorded in ancient Chinese inscriptions, but the woman’s skull found in Sanzhiyuan Cemetery constitutes the first-ever direct archaeological evidence of this grisly practice.
Researchers also found that the woman’s bones had healed extensively, suggesting that she lived for at least several years after her punishment. But the accompanying shaming apparently never went away, as evidenced by her burial.
“We believe this woman was a kind of cast-off after death. She was buried face-down, suggesting a discriminatory attitude,” Wang said to Live Science. “Her burial, alone, in a place without her family or community, could be a decision of disapproval.”
After reading about the 14th-century Chinese woman whose nose was likely cut off as a punishment, learn about lingchi, the Chinese execution method reserved for the very worst criminals. Then, dive into the story of Lady Dai, the stunningly intact ancient mummy of a Chinese noblewoman.














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