TCM Unearthed: The Bone Needle of the Daxi Culture

This bone needle, dating back to the Neolithic Age, was excavated from the Daxi Cultural site in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China. Unlike the sewing tools we commonly know, archaeologists believe this was an ancient medical instrument. It has a sharp end and a blunt, rounded end with no eyelet. Thousands of years ago, in a harsh environment, ancient people often suffered from festering infections caused by injuries. They discovered that stimulating painful areas with sharp animal bones could alleviate suffering. Therefore, this bone needle is considered the earliest prototype of acupuncture and moxibustion, demonstrating the wisdom of our ancestors in their fight against disease. It is now housed in the Museum of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

Portions of this article were adapted from research materials originally published on National Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine.