Researchers identify a 75,000 year old Neanderthal killed by a wooden spear

Archaeologists identified a Neanderthal individual, known as Shanidar A, who likely died from a wooden spear wound in Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The remains were found buried under 7.5 meters of rock and sediment. Researchers used high resolution CT scans to examine a 15 millimeter circular hole in the individual's left shoulder blade. The hole's beveled edges suggest a pointed object entered the chest from the front and pierced the bone from the inside.

The findings suggest the weapon was a wooden spear rather than a stone tipped tool. While the researchers cannot confirm if the wound was an accident during a hunt or an act of intentional violence, the injury likely caused rapid death by passing through the lung. The skeleton also reveals a different injury from earlier in the individual's life. A severe blow to the face split a front tooth and knocked other teeth out of alignment.

Tartar buildup on the damaged tooth indicates the individual lived with this injury for at least a year before the final spear wound occurred. Evidence suggests the Neanderthal community cared for its members. Researchers believe the individual may have received help from others who provided softer food to accommodate the broken tooth. The remains were found in a specific area of the cave where multiple individuals were buried over time.

The presence of a large boulder nearby suggests the site served as a recognized landmark for generations of Neanderthals who returned to the cave to bury their dead.