Oldest known homicide? archaeologists detail 75,000-year-old neandertal death
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Archaeologists in Iraqi Kurdistan examined a Neandertal shoulder blade with a circular puncture wound, suggesting the man was killed by a wooden spear around 75,000 years ago.
The spear, thrust from the front, pierced the man’s chest, lungs, and major blood vessels, and continued through his shoulder blade. Researchers believe the attack was deliberately aimed at his heart and required considerable strength and skill with the weapon.
The injured man lived among a group of Neandertals in Shanidar Cave, and was approximately 45 years old. Emma Pomeroy of Cambridge University noted the remarkably well-preserved condition of the scapula allowed for detailed analysis. The discovery sheds light on Neandertal weaponry, as wooden spears rarely survive due to decomposition, but similar spears were found in Germany dating back 200,000 years. Scientists found additional remains of the Neandertal, including parts of his hand, ribs, and teeth.
One tooth showed signs of an old fracture that had healed with care from others, suggesting the man received long-term support after an injury. While it’s not certain the death was a homicide, the precision of the wound implies a deliberate act. This, combined with evidence of care for injured individuals, challenges older views of Neandertals as solely brutal.
