Dealing with the loss of a limb has been a problem that man has had to face for as long as he has been in existence. Even in some prehistoric times, there were undoubtedly people who survived crushing injuries that resulted in amputation.  The earliest known use of prosthesis was found 484 B.C.  A Persian soldier was imprisoned in stocks by his enemy and escaped by cutting off part of his foot, later replacing it with a wooden version (Wilson).  Since many of the early reasons for amputation were the result of warfare, men doing battle asked  armor makers to create limbs that matched their suits of armor.  These prosthetics were made of iron and metals, and were too heavy for practical use.  In 1575, Ambroise Pare, of France, was the first to apply science to limb construction (Wilson).  Today, prosthetics are made of modern materials such as, lightweight polymers and alloys, carbon graphite and titanium (Karr).  

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Below:  Labeled diagram sketch of an early prosthesis