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Image Credit: Ling et al., Antiquity (2026)
Traces of Ancient Anaesthetic Found on Ming Dynasty Surgical Tools
A new archaeological study has identified probable traces of aconitine-based compounds on medical instruments from a Ming Dynasty tomb in Jiangyin, China, offering rare physical evidence for the use of anaesthetic substances in ancient Chinese surgery. The research examined two metal instruments—scissors and tweezers—associated with the tomb of Xia Quan, who lived between 1348 and 1411 AD.
The instruments were excavated in 1974 and are now held by the Jiangyin Museum. Because the tomb is linked to a known individual and a secure early Ming Dynasty context, the finds provide an important opportunity to study medical practice through both archaeological objects and scientific residue analysis.
Researchers collected tiny red residue particles from areas of the tools that would have been difficult to clean, such as the blade area of the scissors and the body of the tweezers near the handle. Elemental analysis showed that both instruments were made mainly of iron, reflecting the advanced iron-working technology of the Ming period.
The study used micro-Raman spectroscopy and stimulated Raman scattering microscopy to examine the residues. The results revealed organic compounds and chemical signatures consistent with aconitine-type substances. Aconitine is a highly toxic alkaloid found in plants of the Aconitum genus, including species known from traditional Chinese medical prescriptions.
Historical medical texts from the Ming period describe the use of anaesthetic preparations containing Aconitum ingredients in surgical treatment. According to the study, the residues were found in functional areas of the instruments, suggesting they were likely transferred during medical use rather than through later contamination.
The researchers suggest that the substance may have been applied topically as a numbing agent during surgery. This points to a practical understanding of both the medicinal value and toxicity of such compounds. The study argues that Ming physicians may have managed these risks through controlled application, compound prescriptions, and careful procedures.
The findings provide rare material evidence for surgical anaesthesia in Ming China. They also show how modern non-destructive analytical techniques can reveal traces of ancient medical practice from very small residues preserved on archaeological artifacts.
Published on: 27-05-2026
Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie
Source: Antiquity
