Neanderthals Performed Dental Surgery 59,000 Years Ago

Scientists have discovered evidence that Neanderthals performed dental surgery approximately 59,000 years ago, according to a study published in the journal PLOS One. The discovery was made at Chagyrskaya Cave in southwestern Siberia, where researchers found a Neanderthal molar with a depression believed to be evidence of an ancient invasive dental procedure.

The molar, which belonged to an adult Neanderthal, shows signs of having been drilled into with a stone tool. The hole occupies the entire volume where the pulp would have been, and microscopic radial grooves suggest artificial drilling. According to John Olsen, an archaeologist at the University of Arizona and co-author of the report, "This [hole] was created by a stone tool handled by a Neanderthal between the thumb and the forefinger." The tool was used to expose the pulp and clean it out.

The research team conducted experiments on modern human teeth using a replica of what they believe to have been the stone tool. These experiments successfully duplicated the same geometry and abrasion observed in the ancient tooth, bolstering their conclusions. Ksenia Kolobova, an archaeologist at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted that the procedure required diagnosing the source of pain, understanding that removing decayed tissue could bring relief, deliberately selecting an appropriate stone tool, and executing precise drilling with controlled finger movements.

The findings challenge outdated views that such complex behavior was exclusive to modern humans. The molar represents the earliest-known example of invasive dental surgery, according to Kolobova. Alisa Zubova, a dental anthropologist and lead author of the study, noted that this is consistent with modern understanding of treating deep carious lesions.

The discovery suggests that Neanderthals possessed sophisticated cognitive abilities, including planning, precise motor skills, and deliberate medical strategy. The molar's hole covered almost the entire chewing surface, indicating a significant intervention. Subsequent wear on the tooth suggests the individual lived for a considerable period of time using this tooth post-surgery.