A circular perforation in the shoulder blade of a Neanderthal about 75,000 years old, found in a cave in Iraqi Kurdistan, may be the oldest known evidence that our ancestors used wooden spears to attack other humans. The researchers acknowledge, however, that it is not possible to determine whether the wound resulted from violence or an accident during hunting.
A perforation of about 15 millimeters in diameter on the shoulder blade of a Neanderthal could reveal an episode of violence that occurred around 75,000 years ago. The injury was identified in the remains of an individual discovered in Shanidar Cave, in Iraqi Kurdistan, and may have been caused by a sharp wooden spear, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the United Kingdom and Spain, who analyzed the Shanidar A remains, excavated in 2019 and 2022. The remains include much of the right hand, several ribs, bone fragments, the left shoulder blade and seven teeth. The age at death was estimated at about 45 years.
The perforation on the shoulder blade has regular edges, fractures radiating from the hole, and small displaced bone fragments. These features led the researchers to propose that the injury was caused by a pointed object, probably a wooden spear, and occurred near the time of death.
The hypothesis presented is that the weapon entered through the anterior part of the left chest, traversed the thoracic cavity and hit the lung and, possibly, large blood vessels, before perforating the shoulder blade. The displaced bone fragments also suggest that the object followed a downward trajectory, from top to bottom.
If this interpretation is correct, the injury would likely have been fatal. However, the researchers were unable to determine whether it resulted from an intentional attack or an accident during a hunting activity. For this reason, the finding is presented as possible ancient evidence of the use of spears against other humans, and not as definitive proof of homicide.
The remains also reveal signs of other injuries. Among them, a vertically split incisor stands out, which shows wear marks posteriorly, suggesting that the individual suffered a mouth trauma that would not have been fatal.
The authors therefore acknowledge that Shanidar A may have received care that allowed him to survive that injury before suffering the shoulder blade wound. This possibility adds information about how Neanderthals cared for wounded or vulnerable individuals.
The Shanidar cave is an important site for the study of Neanderthals. There, several individuals have been identified with ages estimated between 50,000 and 75,000 years old, and previous investigations suggest that some may have been deliberately deposited at the site, raising questions about funerary practices and the symbolic behavior of these human groups.
The new results offer clues about violence, hunting and care among Neanderthals, but the researchers stress that the interpretation of the injury remains uncertain. The distinction between an accident and an act of aggression remains to be clarified.
