75,000-year-old Neanderthal may have been killed by a spear aimed at the heart
This discovery provides rare insight into ancient violence and weapon use among Neanderthals.
A Neanderthal's shoulder blade, found in a cave in Iraqi Kurdistan, shows a circular hole likely caused by a wooden spear. The injury suggests a fatal attack, possibly targeting the heart. Researchers believe the spear entered from above, passing through the chest and shoulder, leading to rapid death. The bone's preservation offers clues about the weapon's design and the nature of the attack.
- A 75,000-year-old Neanderthal scapula shows a 15mm circular hole likely from a wooden spear.
- Researchers from the University of Cambridge suggest the spear entered the chest, passing through the lung and shoulder blade.
- The beveled edges and bone fragments indicate the wound may have been an intentional 'heart shot'.
- The discovery offers the first evidence of wooden spears used in the prehistoric Middle East.