24 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Archaeologists found a medieval skeleton with a prosthetic hand in Freising, Germany

Archaeologists in the city of Freising in Bavaria, Germany, unearthed containing a skeleton with a prosthetic hand. The metal part reveals how advanced medicine was in the 15th century.

Even for experienced archaeologists, this find is something special: a skeleton that is missing parts of the fingers of its left hand. Traces on the preserved bones indicate a possible amputation. The hand remains are in a sophisticated construction made of iron and non-ferrous metal: an iron hand prosthesis from the Middle Ages.

It was discovered during pipeline work in a grave near the Freising parish church of St. Georg. Radiocarbon dating of the skeleton revealed that the prosthesis wearer – a man between 30 and 50 years old – must have died between 1450 and 1620. That means: Even at that time, doctors were thinking about how they could make life easier for amputees.

There are currently around 50 comparable prostheses known in Central Europe from the late Middle Ages or early modern times. These include both simple, immovable prostheses and those with mechanical components. After recovery and documentation in the restoration workshops of the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD), the rare find from Freising was roughly cleaned, X-rayed, stabilized and examined for leather and textile residues.

Prosthetic hand in an exposed state, external view Photo: Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD)
Prosthetic hand in an exposed state, external view Photo: Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD)

“The hollow hand prosthesis of the left hand added four fingers. The index, middle, ring and little fingers are individually made of sheet metal and are immobile. The finger replicas lie parallel to each other, slightly curved. The prosthesis was probably tied to the stump of the hand with straps,” says Dr. Walter Irlinger, head of the conservation department at the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD).



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



How the man lost his hand and what the prosthesis was used for is still a mystery to scientists. It is known that the thumb of the hand was still preserved; a thumb bone was corroded on the inside of the prosthesis. Apparently, the construction was covered with leather, and a restorer found wrinkled tissue on the inside of the fingers. Inside the iron hand, there is a gauze-like textile that was probably used to pad the stump of the hand.

Prosthetic hand in exposed condition, interior view. Photo: Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD)
Prosthetic hand in exposed condition, interior view. Photo: Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD)

Many military conflicts in Central Europe occurred during the late Middle Ages and the early modern period. As a bishop’s see and later an imperial-free corporate state, Freising gained great influence in the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, the city was the scene of military offensives on several occasions – for example during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). This probably led to increased amputations and increased demand for prostheses. From 1530 onwards, the most famous “Iron Hand” was worn by the knight Götz von Berlichingen, who lost his right hand to a cannon shot during the siege of Landshut. In contrast to the Freising iron hand, his prosthesis was mobile and technically exceptionally complex.

Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation

Cover Photo: Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation

Related Articles

Turkey’s second ancient lighthouse found in the Bathonea

28 July 2023

28 July 2023

The excavations in the ancient Greek city of Bathonea, located in the KĂŒĂ§ĂŒkçekmece Lake basin in the Avcılar district of...

Ancient settlements that challenge traditional thinking “Karahantepe and Taß Tepeler”

5 December 2021

5 December 2021

After Göbeklitepe in ƞanlıurfa, which sheds light on 12,000 years ago in human history and is considered one of the...

7 Gold Pendants Found Buried by Ancient Scandinavian Elites as a Sacrifice to the Gods

13 May 2021

13 May 2021

7 gold necklaces were found in a field near the Norwegian municipality of Østfold County Rade. Researchers believe that these...

Archaeologists in northern Spanish have discovered what they believe to be the oldest Basque language text

15 November 2022

15 November 2022

Archaeologists have discovered what they believe to be the oldest Basque language text, on  Irulegi archaeological site, near the Aranguren...

Women May Have Ruled El Algar in the Bronze Age

12 March 2021

12 March 2021

The diadem found in the Bronze Age tomb belonging to the El Algar culture may have belonged to a queen....

A first in 35 years! Child grave with bracelets and gifts found in ancient city of Kelenderis

25 June 2022

25 June 2022

During this year’s excavations in the ancient city of Kelenderis, founded on the Mediterranean coast in the southern province of...

Mystery ax discovered off the coast of Arendal of Norway

26 July 2021

26 July 2021

Researchers have discovered a find that could be a first for Norwegian archeology. A hollow ax, which researchers believe dates...

Archaeologists may have discovered the site where Otto the Great, founder of the Holy Roman Empire, died

5 October 2023

5 October 2023

Archaeologists believe they have found the site where Emperor Otto I (936-973), known as the Great, founder of the Holy...

“Oracle Bone Inscriptions”, the world’s oldest writing system that has not disappeared in history

5 June 2023

5 June 2023

“Jiaguwen,” or the oracle bone inscriptions, are thought to be the earliest fully-developed characters as well as the source of...

Silver coins found near the ruins of the medieval monastery in Holy island

10 November 2021

10 November 2021

Archaeologists have discovered a silver coin on Lindisfarne, known as Holy Island, in the northeast of England. Dig Ventures is...

7.5 Million Annual Elephant Skulls Fossil Were Found in Turkey “Choerolophodon Pentelic”

17 March 2021

17 March 2021

A complete skull fossil from 7.5 million years ago was discovered on the bank of the Yamula Dam in the...

Paleontologists say world’s oldest-known burial site found in South Africa

6 June 2023

6 June 2023

American explorer and scientist Lee Berger in South Africa said they have found the oldest-known burial site in the world,...

Archaeologists find 2,000-year-old eyeshadow and blush in ancient Roman city of Aizanoi

24 September 2023

24 September 2023

Archaeologists discovered rare makeup products of 10 different colors and different sorts of hair accessories and jewelry during excavations at...

In the backstage of Smyrna Ancient Theater Latrina found

3 November 2021

3 November 2021

Interesting finds unearthed during the excavations of the 2400-year-old Ancient City of Smyrna in the Aegean region of Turkey continue...

Metal Detectorist Finds on 4,000-year-old Dagger in Poland Forests

24 February 2024

24 February 2024

A copper dagger more than 4,000 years old was found in a forest near the town of JarosƂaw on the...