Archaeologists have discovered the oldest known evidence of dentistry in a 59,000-year-old Neanderthal tooth from Siberia, showing signs of intentional drilling to treat an infection. The tooth, found in Russia's Chagyrskaya Cave, contains a large hole with distinctive scratch marks indicating the use of stone tools for dental treatment. This finding pushes back the timeline of medical intervention by tens of thousands of years and provides new insights into Neanderthal cognitive abilities and social behavior.
Background
Neanderthals were an extinct species of archaic humans who lived in Eurasia until about 40,000 years ago. Previous evidence suggested they had some medical knowledge, but this discovery significantly pushes back the timeline of dental practices.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- May 14, 2026 at 02:00 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10