西周时期一例疑似刖刑的病例

本文对周原齐家东M24墓主骨骼进行了生物考古学研究,发现其右侧胫、腓骨下端1/5处为截肢后畸形愈合;胫骨生理长缩短约5 cm,足部离断后缺失。结合创伤情况、考古学背景及文献实物资料,该个体生前极有可能遭受了“惩罚性截肢”,即刖刑。商周时期刖刑的致死率极高,施刑工具可能有青铜刀锯、钻头、石块等,除拉切外还伴有砍砸行为。被刖之人康复后需拄杖行走并承担守门之责,社会地位低下、饮食状况不佳且饱受他人歧视,境遇十分悲惨。周原齐家东M24墓主是我国经过系统研究且年代最早的截肢病例,也是目前所见最为疑似刖刑的首例个体,为深入了解西周时期的刑罚体系、医疗水平及社会观念等提供了生动资料。

A suspected case of the Yue penalty in the Western Zhou period

Yue penalty, in other words, foot amputation, is one of the five corporal punishments in the judicial system during the pre-Qin period. Previous studies mainly focused on historical documents and bronze vessels related to the Yue penalty, lacking paleopathological observation and diagnosis of human remains. In this paper, we conducted a multidisciplinary analysis of the tomb M24, which was excavated from the Qijia East cemetery at the Zhouyuan site. The tomb owner is a female aged 30-35, whose right foot is lost due to the punitive amputation. Her right distal areas of tibia and fibula are fractured and fusion together. Therefore, the right lower leg is 5 cm shorter. According to the written records and archaeological finds, the speculated tools used for the Yue penalty are bronze knives, saws, drills as well as stones. The mortality of the Yue penalty at that time is extremely high. Survivors have to walk with a stick and to serve as a gatekeeper. Their lives are miserable because of low social status, poor nutrition, and discrimination from others. This is the first well-studied foot amputation case in ancient China, providing valuable materials to look into the penalty system, medical conditions, and social customs in the Western Zhou dynasty.