Neanderthal Dentistry, and the Scientist Glad Not to Have Experienced It
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Archaeologists discovered a 59,000-year-old Neanderthal molar in Siberia's Chagyrskaya Cave with a deep hole that was intentionally drilled using a stone tool, indicating early dental intervention.
- Researchers replicated the bore marks using fine-pointed jasper drills, suggesting the Neanderthal underwent a deliberate Stone Age root canal, predating previous evidence of dentistry by over 40,000 years.
- The procedure demonstrated advanced neurological and mechanical skills, as the ancient hominins diagnosed tooth pain, selected appropriate tools, and carefully scraped down to the tooth pulp without anesthesia.
- The tooth showed signs of continued use after the drilling, indicating the patient survived the painful treatment and maintained normal chewing function.
- The study was conducted by a multidisciplinary team including archaeologists, stone tool experts, dental anthropologists, and anthropology professors, highlighting the complexity of early human medical knowledge.