Credit: Tim  Maloney
Credit: Tim Maloney

NEWS BRIEFING: Earliest known Stone Age surgery discovered

Embargoed until: Publicly released:
Peer-reviewed: This work was reviewed and scrutinised by relevant independent experts.

*Briefing recording now available* A team of Indonesian and Australian archaeologists co-led by Griffith University academics has unearthed the skeletal remains of a young hunter-gatherer whose lower left leg was amputated by a skilled prehistoric surgeon 31,000 years ago. The discovery, published in Nature, is thought to be the earliest known evidence for a complex medical act, pre-dating other instances of stone age ‘operations’ found at sites across Eurasia by tens of thousands of years. Join us for this online briefing to hear from the team about their discovery.

Journal/conference: Nature

Link to research (DOI): 10.1038/s41586-022-05160-8

Organisation/s: Griffith University, The University of Sydney, Southern Cross University, The University of Western Australia, Flinders University

Funder: This research was supported by a fellowship from the Australian Research Council to Maxime Aubert (FT170100025) as well as additional financial support from Griffith University. This research was conducted on instruments supported by the Australian Research Council to Joannes-Boyau et al. (LE200100022) as well as additional financial support from Southern Cross University. India Ella Dilkes-Hall is a Forrest Foundation Prospect Fellow supported by the Forrest Research Foundation.

Media release

From: Australian Science Media Centre

Aussie and Indonesian archaeologists have discovered what is believed to be the earliest known evidence of surgery. The team unearthed the skeletal remains of a young hunter-gatherer whose lower left leg was amputated by a skilled prehistoric surgeon 31,000 years ago. The discovery is thought to be the earliest known evidence for a complex medical act, pre-dating other instances of stone age ‘operations’ found at sites across Eurasia by tens of thousands of years.

Speakers:

  • Dr Tim Maloney is Research Fellow at the Griffith University, Centre for Social and Cultural Research, Australia
  • Prof Maxime Aubert is an archaeologist and geochemist in the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science at Griffith University, Australia
  • Dr India Ella Dilkes-Hall is an archaeologist, archaeobotanist and Forrest Prospect Fellow at the University of Western Australia
  • Associate Professor Renaud Joannes-Boyau is the Head of Geoarchaeology and Archaeometry Research Group at Southern Cross University
  • Adhi Oktaviana is a PhD candidate with Griffith University

Date: Wed 07 Sep 2022
Start Time: 10:00am AEST
Duration: Approx 45 min 
Venue: Online - Zoom

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Multimedia:

  • Skeletal remains found in the Borneo cave site.
    Skeletal remains found in the Borneo cave site.

    The remains of a young hunter-gatherer whose lower left leg was amputated.

    File size: 958.2 KB

    Attribution: Credit: Tim Maloney

    Permission category: Free to share (must credit)

    Last modified: 09 Sep 2022 12:03am

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  • Dr Tim Maloney takes in the discovery of the ancient skeletal remains.
    Dr Tim Maloney takes in the discovery of the ancient skeletal remains.

    Dr Tim Maloney takes in the discovery of the ancient skeletal remains.

    File size: 9.6 MB

    Attribution: Credit: Tim Maloney

    Permission category: Free to share (must credit)

    Last modified: 09 Sep 2022 12:11am

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  • Andika Priyatno and Dr Tim Maloney.
    Andika Priyatno and Dr Tim Maloney.

    Andika Priyatno from Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya and Dr Tim Maloney from Griffith University carefully excavate the remains.

    File size: 10.3 MB

    Attribution: Credit: Tim Maloney

    Permission category: Free to share (must credit)

    Last modified: 09 Sep 2022 12:12am

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  • Andika Priyatno and Dr Tim Maloney

    Andika Priyatno from Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya and Dr Tim Maloney from Griffith University carefully excavate the remains.

    File Size: 64.0 MB

    Attribution: Credit: Tim Maloney

    Permission Category: Free to share (must credit)

    Last Modified: 09 Sep 2022 12:21am

    Note: High resolution video files are only available for download here by registered journalists who are logged in.

  • The skeletal remains of a young hunter-gather whose foot was amputated.

    The skeletal remains of a young hunter-gather whose foot was amputated.

    File Size: 29.1 MB

    Attribution: Credit: Tim Maloney

    Permission Category: Free to share (must credit)

    Last Modified: 09 Sep 2022 12:23am

    Note: High resolution video files are only available for download here by registered journalists who are logged in.

  • Griffith University Archaeologists discover worlds oldest surgical amputation

    A team of Indonesian and Australian archaeologists co-led by Griffith University academics has unearthed the skeletal remains of a young hunter-gatherer whose lower left leg was amputated by a skilled prehistoric surgeon 31,000 years ago.

    Attribution: Credit: Griffith University

    Permission Category: Free to share (must credit)

    Last Modified: 02 Sep 2022 4:17pm

    Note: High resolution video files are only available for download here by registered journalists who are logged in.

  • Artist ‘s impression of Tebo1
    Artist ‘s impression of Tebo1

    The individual had their lower left leg amputated as a child and survived into early adulthood in an artistic community 31,000 years ago in Borneo

    File size: 2.0 MB

    Attribution: Jose Garcia (Garciartist) and Griffith University.

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 08 Sep 2022 3:00am

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