Signs of violence in 75,000-year-old Neanderthal remains: Could be a spear wound

Examinations of the 75,000-year-old Neanderthal remain discovered in Shanidar Cave in Northern Iraq, referred to as 'Shanidar A', have revealed significant findings regarding the use of violence in prehistoric times. Researchers state that the 15-millimeter hole detected in the shoulder blade of the remain may have been caused by a sharpened wooden spear entering through the chest and exiting after damaging the lungs and major blood vessels.

In the study published in the journal Scientific Reports, the angle and location of the wound were analyzed in detail. Dr. Emma Pomeroy from the Cambridge Department of Archaeology stated that this finding is the first concrete evidence of the use of sharpened wooden spears in the prehistoric Middle East.

Assessment: Experts have not reached a definitive conclusion as to whether the wound in question was a hunting accident or an interpersonal attack. However, the size of the wound and its location on the body stand out as the primary factors strengthening the possibility of an attack.