Oldest Known Spear Attack May Be Found in 75,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Remains
A 75,000-year-old Neanderthal shoulder blade found in Iraq's Shanidar Cave contains a hole that may be the oldest evidence of a lethal spear attack. The remains, identified as Shanidar A, suggest that lethal violence existed between ancient humans earlier than previously thought. While the wound points to a violent death, other evidence from the remains indicates that Neanderthals also exhibited compassion and care for one another. Researchers are evaluating whether this specific injury represents a fatal wooden spear wound.
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- ✓ A Neanderthal shoulder blade from an Iraqi cave dates back 75,000 years.
- ✓ The remains are from Shanidar Cave.
- ✓ The bone shows evidence of a spear attack.
- ✓ The remains provide hints of both violence and compassion in Neanderthals.
What changed
Analysis of the Shanidar A left scapula identified a possible fatal spear wound dating to 75,000 years ago.
Live updates
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Neanderthal Remains in Iraq May Show Oldest Known Spear Attack
A 75,000-year-old Neanderthal shoulder blade found in Iraq's Shanidar Cave contains a hole that may be the oldest evidence of a lethal spear attack. The remains, identified as Shanidar A, suggest that lethal violence existed between ancient humans earlier than previously thought. While the wound points to a violent death, other evidence from the remains indicates that Neanderthals also exhibited compassion and care for one another. Researchers are evaluating whether this specific injury represents a fatal wooden spear wound.
Why it matters
The discovery challenges previous understandings of Neanderthal social behavior by juxtaposing lethal aggression with altruism. It provides a rare physical record of interpersonal violence from the Middle Paleolithic period. The analysis of the scapula helps date the emergence of organized lethal conflict.
What is confirmed
- A Neanderthal shoulder blade from an Iraqi cave dates back 75,000 years.
- The remains are from Shanidar Cave.
- The bone shows evidence of a spear attack.
- The remains provide hints of both violence and compassion in Neanderthals.
Still unconfirmed
- The injury was caused specifically by a wooden spear.
What to watch next
- Discovery of additional skeletal remains in Shanidar Cave to determine if violence was systemic.
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (13)
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- CNN — Neanderthal murder mystery reveals a tale of violence and compassion
- Reuters — Bones from Iraqi cave hint at violence and compassion in Neanderthals
- Archaeology Magazine — News - Possible Fatal Wound Identified in Neanderthal Bone
- ScienceAlert — Oldest Known Spear Attack May Be Found in 75,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Remains
- Popular Science — 75,000 years ago, this Neanderthal was stabbed with a spear
- www.ynetnews.com — Long before Cain and Abel: Neanderthal murder mystery dates back 75,000 years
- www.geo.tv — Bones from Iraqi cave hint at violence and compassion in Neanderthals - Geo News
- www.bbc.co.uk — Was Neanderthal life violent? This wound suggests lethal fighting was more common - BBC
- www.sciencealert.com — Ancient Hole in Neanderthal Shoulder Blade May Be The Oldest Spear Attack Ever Discovered : ScienceAlert
- www.ancient-origins.net — Neanderthal in Iraq May Bear Oldest Spear-Kill Wound | Ancient Origins
- www.yahoo.com — 'Birdman' copper plate: A 700-year-old depiction of a Native American warrior that may be a woman holding a weapon and a severed head
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