A medieval prosthetic hand with an intricate design and made of various types of metal has been discovered in Bavaria. This was reported by Arkeonews.
A left arm prosthesis was discovered during pipeline work. It belonged to a man between 30 and 50 years old. According to radiocarbon dating, he lived between the 15th and 17th years. Marks on his hand indicate that all his fingers, except his thumb, were amputated.
The prosthesis was probably attached to the arm with straps and its structure was covered with leather. Inside the arm was a gauze-like fabric made of ferrous and non-ferrous metals that could be used to cover the stump of the arm.
Frequent wars in Central Europe at that time caused an increase in the number of amputations and the demand for prosthetics. The most famous owner of the artificial arm was the knight Götz von Berlichingen, who lost his right arm during the siege of Landshut. Unlike the Bavarian prostheses, his was mobile and technically extremely complex. In total, about 50 similar prostheses are known from the late Middle Ages or early modern times.
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