Neanderthal man died from lance wound in Iraq

Archaeologists working in Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan determined that a Neanderthal man named Shanidar A, who lived 75,000 years ago, died from a deep wound to his shoulder blade caused by a wooden lance.

The team, led by the University of Cambridge, identified Shanidar A among several other Neanderthals discovered at the site since excavations began in 2015.

Analysis of his scapula revealed a 15-millimeter puncture wound with splintered bone fragments, indicating a forceful, downward trajectory consistent with a thrust from a lance or similar weapon. While wooden lances from this period are rare, the best-preserved examples come from Germany and date to between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago, researchers believe Shanidar A was likely killed by a deliberate attack rather than a hunting accident, given the position and force of the wound targeting his heart.

The Neanderthal also suffered a severe head injury that split one of his incisors, but he survived for a time, receiving care from others as the injury prevented him from feeding himself. Shanidar Cave is also known for its “flower burial,” and the archaeologists noted a cluster of burials behind a large rock. Shanidar A was the earliest burial within this cluster.

The researchers suggest that the repeated burials in this location indicate intentional mortuary practices among the Neanderthals of Shanidar, demonstrating both violence and empathy within the community.