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Researchers May Have Found a Neanderthal Murder
Newser • • world
Key Points:
- Archaeologists analyzed the remains of a Neanderthal known as "Shanidar A," buried 75,000 years ago in Shanidar Cave, Iraq, and found evidence suggesting the individual was killed by a wooden spear wound to the chest.
- The spear pierced through the chest and exited the shoulder blade with significant force, indicating an intentional kill shot aimed at the heart, according to lead researcher Emma Pomeroy of the University of Cambridge.
- Experimental tests showed the wound's shape matches injuries caused by wooden spears, supporting the hypothesis of deliberate violence rather than an accidental hunting injury.
- Shanidar A also exhibited signs of previous trauma, including a shattered front tooth and likely facial injuries, which the individual survived long enough for healing, suggesting Neanderthals cared for injured group members despite engaging in violent encounters.
