A Neanderthal tooth discovered in a Siberian cave provides evidence of the earliest known dental treatment, dating back approximately 59,000 years. The molar features a deep hole created by a sharp stone tool, suggesting that Neanderthals performed invasive dental procedures long before modern humans.
Discovery and Analysis
The tooth was unearthed at the Chagyrskaya cave site in southern Siberia, along with other Neanderthal remains and thousands of stone tools. Microscopic X-ray imaging revealed changes in mineralisation indicating severe tooth decay, and the drilled hole extends into the pulp cavity. Researchers conducted experiments on modern human teeth to replicate the hole's shape and microscopic grooves, finding that manual rotation of a narrow jasper tool for 35 to 50 minutes could produce similar results.
Implications for Neanderthal Behaviour
Dr Kseniya Kolobova, an archaeologist at the Russian Academy of Sciences, stated that this discovery challenges outdated stereotypes of Neanderthals as brutish, highlighting their advanced cognitive and cultural capacities. The finding adds invasive medical treatment to the list of sophisticated Neanderthal behaviours, which already included caring for sick and vulnerable group members.
Professor Justin Durham of Newcastle University, who reviewed images of the tooth, described the procedure as a decent job and noted that it would have relieved pressure from infection, similar to the beginnings of a root canal treatment. He emphasised the high level of skill required, given that modern dentistry uses diamond-tipped burrs at high speeds.
Patient Survival and Pain Tolerance
The smoothed edges of the drilled cavity and wear patterns inside suggest the individual survived and continued to chew with the tooth for some time after the procedure. However, without filling, the tooth would have been vulnerable to chronic infection. Dr Lydia Zotkina, co-author of the study, remarked on the remarkable self-control and strong will of the Neanderthal patient, who endured the excruciating pain of the drilling for temporary relief.
The research, published in the journal PLOS One, provides a new perspective on Neanderthal medicine and their ability to perform complex, painful treatments.
