31,000-year-old skeleton missing its lower left leg is earliest known evidence of surgery, experts say

Finding by Australian and Indonesian archaeologists in remote Borneo cave rewrites understanding of human history

• Get our free news app, morning email briefing or daily news podcast

A 31,000-year-old skeleton missing its lower left leg and found in a remote Indonesian cave is believed to be the earliest known evidence of surgery, according to a peer-reviewed study that experts say rewrites understanding of human history.

An expedition team led by Australian and Indonesian archaeologists stumbled upon the skeletal remains while excavating a limestone cave in East Kalimantan, Borneo looking for ancient rock art in 2020.

Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning