Neanderthal lethal violence: A spear wound found in Iraq
A 75,000-year-old shoulder blade discovered in Iraqi Kurdistan offers groundbreaking evidence regarding the history of human conflict. The fossil features a distinct 15mm wound, which researchers believe was caused by a sharpened wooden spear. This discovery suggests that lethal interpersonal violence may have much deeper roots in prehistory than previously understood. By analyzing the specific damage to the bone, archaeologists can reconstruct a moment of ancient aggression. This find provides a rare, physical glimpse into the violent realities faced by Neanderthal populations during the Middle Paleolithic era.
