Neanderthal Violence: 75,000-Year-Old Wound Suggests Fatal Spear Attack
A 75,000-year-old Neanderthal skeleton discovered in a cave in Iraq is offering new clues about violence among our ancient relatives.
Researchers found a small, circular hole in the individual’s shoulder blade. They believe the wound may have been caused by a sharpened wooden spear that penetrated the chest and caused death.
The discovery was made at Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan. The site is well known for its important Neanderthal remains and has helped scientists understand how these ancient humans lived.
The newly studied individual, named Shanidar A, was an adult who may have been in their mid-40s. Researchers could not determine the individual’s sex from the remains.
The findings were published on October 15 in the scientific journal Scientific Reports. They provide rare evidence of possible lethal violence among Neanderthals, although scientists cannot establish exactly who delivered the fatal blow.
A Fatal Wound in a 75,000-Year-Old Skeleton
Researchers discovered a hole measuring about 15 millimetres across in Shanidar A’s left shoulder blade.
The shape of the hole and the fractures around it suggest that a sharpened wooden spear may have caused the injury. Researchers say a stone-tipped weapon would usually leave a different type of mark.
The evidence suggests that the spear entered the chest from the front and travelled through the body before damaging the shoulder blade.
The wound may have damaged the lungs and major blood vessels. Researchers believe this would probably have caused death quickly.
The position and shape of the injury have led scientists to consider whether the individual was deliberately attacked.
However, the exact circumstances remain uncertain. The researchers cannot completely rule out an accident, including an injury during hunting.
Researchers Suspect Interpersonal Violence
The research team believes interpersonal violence is the most likely explanation for the fatal wound.
According to archaeologists, the attack may have involved members of the same Neanderthal group or individuals from rival groups.
The evidence does not establish who was responsible. It also does not prove that the attacker belonged to another Neanderthal group or was a member of our own species, Homo sapiens.
Wooden spears were important tools for ancient hunters. However, wooden weapons rarely survive for thousands of years because organic materials usually decay.
The discovery therefore provides valuable evidence about how Neanderthals may have used wooden weapons.
It also adds to the small number of prehistoric human remains showing injuries that may have resulted from deliberate violence.
Earlier Injury Suggests Neanderthal Received Care
The skeleton revealed another important detail about Shanidar A’s life.
Researchers found teeth showing evidence of a severe facial injury that occurred at least a year before the individual’s death.
The injury damaged several front teeth. Some were broken, while others had been pushed out of their normal positions.
Scientists believe the damage would have made eating difficult and may have caused considerable pain.
The individual survived long enough for the injuries to heal or leave lasting changes in the teeth.
Researchers say this survival raises the possibility that other Neanderthals provided assistance during recovery.
Such support may have included helping the injured individual obtain or prepare food.
The evidence cannot prove exactly what kind of care was provided. However, it supports wider research suggesting that Neanderthals sometimes helped injured members of their communities survive.
Shanidar Cave Offers More Clues About Neanderthal Life
Shanidar Cave has been an important archaeological site since researchers began excavating it in the 1950s.
The newly studied remains were found near those of four other Neanderthals. The group included three adults and an infant among the previously identified individuals, with Shanidar A bringing the burial cluster to at least five people.
Their remains were found close together behind a rock pillar inside the cave.
Researchers believe the arrangement may reflect deliberate treatment of the dead. However, the precise meaning of the placement remains a subject of scientific investigation.
The site has helped scientists explore Neanderthal behaviour, social relationships and possible burial practices.
What the Discovery Tells Us About Neanderthals
The discovery highlights the complexity of Neanderthal life.
The fatal wound suggests that violence may have occurred between individuals. The earlier facial injury, meanwhile, points to possible care and support from others.
Scientists caution that one skeleton cannot establish how common lethal fighting was among Neanderthals.
Many injuries found in ancient remains may have resulted from accidents, including dangerous encounters with prey during hunting.
Further discoveries will be needed to understand the frequency and nature of violence in Neanderthal communities.
Still, Shanidar A offers an important glimpse into a distant human past. The remains suggest that violence and compassion could both have played a role in the lives of our ancient relatives.
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