Neanderthals May Have Drilled Cavities 59,000 Years Ago

New research suggests that Neanderthals may have practiced a form of dentistry, drilling out a cavity in a tooth approximately 59,000 years ago. This discovery indicates advanced dental care practices among early humans.

13 May, 18:00 — 13 May, 18:30

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Why this matters

This discovery pushes back the timeline for sophisticated dental procedures by tens of thousands of years, suggesting Neanderthals possessed a level of technical skill and understanding of health previously attributed only to Homo sapiens. It challenges our perception of Neanderthal capabilities and their place in human evolutionary history.

Key entitiesNeanderthals Siberia

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economistHigh4h ago

Neanderthals went to the dentist (really)

They did so tens of thousands of years before humans

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The GuardianMostly Factual4h ago

Neanderthals used stone drills to treat cavities 59,000 years ago, tooth suggests

Molar found in Siberia features deep hole that appears to show earliest known evidence of dental treatment Neanderthals used stone drills to treat cavities almost 60,000 years ago in what is the earliest known evidence of dental treatment. The single molar, which was unearthed in a cave in southern Siberia, features a deep hole that appears to have been created using a sharp, thin stone tool during the lifetime of the tooth’s owner. Continue reading...

By Hannah Devlin Science correspondent

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NPRHigh3h ago