1,500-year-old wooden foot found

AFP, VIENNA: Archeologists in Austria said Thursday they had found what they believe to be Europe’s oldest prosthetic implant in the shape of a wooden foot dating from the sixth century. The discovery was made in the grave of a man missing his left foot and ankle at Hemmaberg in southern Austria. Instead at the end of his leg was an iron ring and remnants of a clump of wood and leather. “He appears to have got over the loss of his foot and lived for two more years at least with this implant, and walking pretty well,” Sabine Ladstaetter from the Austrian Archeological Institute said.

1,500-year-old wooden foot found

AFP, VIENNA: Archeologists in Austria said Thursday they had found what they believe to be Europes oldest prosthetic implant in the shape of a wooden foot dating from the sixth century. The discovery was made in the grave of a man missing his left foot and ankle at Hemmaberg in southern Austria. Instead at the end of his leg was an iron ring and remnants of a clump of wood and leather. He appears to have got over the loss of his foot and lived for two more years at least with this implant, and walking pretty well, Sabine Ladstaetter from the Austrian Archeological Institute said.