Neanderthals May Have Conducted the First Dental Procedure 60,000 Years Ago
Neanderthals may have performed the world’s 1st dental procedure around 60,000 years ago: Study
The Indian Express
Image: The Indian Express
A study led by researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences suggests that Neanderthals performed a sophisticated dental procedure approximately 59,000 years ago. This discovery, centered on an ancient molar from Chagyrskaya Cave in Siberia, Russia, may push back the history of dentistry by over 40,000 years.
- 01Neanderthals may have performed dental procedures 59,000 years ago.
- 02The discovery challenges previous beliefs about the origins of dentistry.
- 03Advanced imaging revealed deliberate drilling in an ancient molar.
- 04The procedure indicates Neanderthals had advanced social and healthcare practices.
- 05The findings encourage a reevaluation of Neanderthals' intellectual capabilities.
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A recent study led by researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences has revealed what could be the earliest known evidence of dental procedures, suggesting that Neanderthals conducted such treatments around 59,000 years ago. This finding, centered on a molar discovered in Chagyrskaya Cave, Siberia, Russia, indicates that the tooth had a deep hole likely created by drilling with a sharp stone tool to remove infected tissue. This discovery predates the previously oldest known dental treatment, which was from a human specimen in Italy dating back about 14,000 years. The researchers used advanced microtomography imaging to identify microscopic grooves consistent with deliberate drilling, rather than natural wear. Experiments using replica stone tools confirmed that similar patterns could be reproduced on modern human teeth, suggesting a high level of technical skill was involved in the procedure. The study implies that Neanderthals were more socially and intellectually advanced than previously thought, as they likely cared for injured individuals and understood the benefits of dental treatment. Lead researcher Dr. Aliza Zubova emphasized the significance of this finding in reshaping our understanding of Neanderthal capabilities.
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