Neanderthals Practiced Dental Surgery

A 59,000‑year‑old Neanderthal molar from the Altai shows a drilled hole into the pulp that experimental replication with stone tools reproduced, implying intentional removal of diseased tissue. Microscopic wear and subsequent eating suggest the individual survived the procedure for some time afterward. — If Neanderthals performed effective dental treatment, it pushes back the timeline for medical practice and reshapes debates about cognitive and social uniqueness between Neanderthals and modern humans.