"Elite Ancient Chinese Skeletons with Severed Legs Unearthed"

Two 2,500-year-old skeletons found in China, missing parts of their lower legs, may have belonged to elite individuals who received the "cruel" punishment of amputation, known as "yue," during the Eastern Zhou dynasty. The skeletons, along with artifacts, were discovered in Henan province, indicating high social status. While some argue that the amputations could have been due to trauma, researchers believe they were punitive, based on the men's social status and the Zhou penal code. The well-healed bones and the men's aristocratic diet support this theory, shedding light on the brutality of ancient Chinese penal systems.