Was Neanderthal life violent? 75,000-year-old wound hints

A recent archaeological analysis of a Neanderthal fossil dating back 75,000 years is challenging long-held assumptions about prehistoric human behavior. Researchers discovered a distinct 15-millimeter hole in a shoulder blade, which they believe was caused by a sharpened wooden spear piercing straight through the chest cavity.

The remains were uncovered inside Shanidar Cave in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, alongside other skeletal parts including a right hand, three ribs, and several teeth. Based on the angle and trajectory of the wound, scientists deduce that the weapon entered the individual's chest, punctured vital organs such as a lung and major blood vessels, and exited via the left shoulder blade, leaving behind a near-perfect circular puncture.

The research team suggests the fatal strike could have been an intentional heart shot. While the injury might theoretically have resulted from a hunting accident or friendly fire, independent experts like Professor Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum in London argue that an attack by a rival is a more plausible explanation given the exact positioning of the wound.

"The fatal strike may have been an intended heart shot."

Shanidar Research Team

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

For decades, many archaeologists linked organized warfare to the advent of farming, when permanent settlements sparked competition over land and food stores. However, evidence from older hunter-gatherer relatives demonstrates that individual killings occurred long before the agricultural era. The ongoing scientific debate now centers on how frequent such violence was and when sporadic attacks evolved into organized conflict. The study has been published in the journal Scientific Reports.