"Rare 300-Year-Old Gold and Copper Prosthesis Unearthed in Poland"

Polish archaeologists have discovered a 300-year-old gold and copper prosthesis in Krakow, believed to be the first of its kind in Europe. The device, a palatal obturator, was designed to help a man with a cleft palate live more comfortably. It consists of a metal plate mimicking the hard palate attached to a wool pad, and was likely used to improve speech and eating. The composition of the prosthesis was primarily copper with significant amounts of gold and silver, and the wool contained traces of silver iodide for antimicrobial properties. This unique find sheds light on early attempts to address cleft palate conditions in medical history.