Sixth-century wooden foot thought be Europe's oldest prosthetic implant

Archaeologists in Austria say their findings about discovery in grave of man with one foot are ‘very, very surprising’

The skeleton at Hemmaberg in southern Austria. ‘The infection risk alone would have been extremely high,’ the archaeologists say. 

Photograph: Josef Eitler/AFP/Getty

Archaeologists in Austria believe they have found Europe’s oldest prosthetic implant – a sixth-century wooden foot.

The discovery was made in the grave of a man missing his left foot and ankle at Hemmaberg, southern Austria. At the end of his leg was an iron ring and remnants of a clump of wood and leather.

Sabine Ladstätter, of the Austrian Archaeological Institute, said: “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.”

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