A skeleton found in the Sanzhiyuan Cemetery in Henan province could offer the first physical evidence of nasal amputation as a form of punishment in ancient China. The remains belong to a woman who was between 40 and 45 years old when she died. She was buried face down, a burial practice often linked to criminals or individuals of low social status. Radiocarbon dating of her bones places her life between 1298 and 1404 CE, covering the transition from the Yuan Dynasty to the early Ming Dynasty. The woman’s skull showed significant damage to the area where her nose should have been. Part of the nasal bones and several delicate structures inside her nose were cut away. The damage appears to have been caused by a deliberate, precise cut, as there were no other signs of fractures or healing in the surrounding facial bones. Additionally, her front teeth were intact, suggesting the injury was not caused by an accident or fall. Further analysis revealed that the damaged bone had healed, with new bone growth around parts of the nasal opening. This indicates that the woman survived for several years after her nose was amputated. Chemical analysis of her bones showed she had a diet based largely on millet and low in animal protein, which suggests she was likely a commoner rather than someone from the wealthy elite. The study, led by Yawei Zhou from Zhengzhou University, was published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. Researchers believe the severe facial disfigurement was most likely the result of punitive nasal amputation, a form of punishment used to mark individuals as criminals or outcasts in ancient Chinese society. This discovery adds new insight into the legal and social practices of the time.