75,000-year-old Neanderthal may have been killed by spear

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 16:33 · Archive

A hole in a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal shoulder blade found in Iraqi Kurdistan may be the earliest evidence of lethal violence from a wooden spear.

Archaeologists have identified what may be the earliest evidence of lethal violence involving a wooden spear in a Neanderthal shoulder blade discovered in the Shanidar cave in Iraqi Kurdistan. The 15mm hole in the bone, found alongside other partial remains of an adult Neanderthal aged about 45, dates to around 75,000 years ago.

Based on the angle of the wound and surrounding evidence, researchers believe the spear entered through the chest and passed through the body, likely damaging a lung and major blood vessels before exiting through the left shoulder blade. Dr Emma Pomeroy, study lead author from Cambridge's Department of Archaeology, suggested the wound may have been 'an intended heart shot'. The shoulder blade showed three fractures spreading from the hole and fragments of bone that scientists believe were punched out when the spear struck.

The remains, designated Shanidar A after the cave's name, were found alongside skeletal remains of at least five other Neanderthals buried in a depression no larger than a fridge. According to Dr Pomeroy, the bodies appear to have been deposited at the same spot over several years or decades, with some placed on top of others still decomposing. This discovery adds to emerging evidence that Neanderthal societies experienced more violence than previously understood.

How it is being reported

• Neanderthal remains may be earliest human ancestor find killed by a spearAdult excavated in an Iraqi Kurdistan cave died more than 70,000 years ago and bears ‘kill shot’ shoulder wound A smooth round hole in the shoulder blade of a Neanderthal who died more than 70,000 years ago may be the oldest evidence so far of a human ancestor being killed by a wooden spear. Archaeologists spotted the distinctive injury after excavating skeletal remains of the adult and other Neanderthals from under nearly 8 metres of rock and sediment in the Shanidar cave in Iraqi Kurdistan. Continue reading...The Guardian · 15 Oct, 16:00
• Was Neanderthal life violent? This wound suggests lethal fighting was more commonA 75,000-year-old Neanderthal spear wound may be evidence violence shaped human life far earlier than thought.BBC Science · 15 Oct, 16:00

In this story: Shanidar cave · Iraqi Kurdistan · Emma Pomeroy · University of Cambridge · Neanderthals

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