100,000-Year-Old Skull Shows Earliest Known Sharp-Force Trauma

A 100,000-year-old human skull from the Qafzeh cave in Israel bears a healed stab wound to the face, likely from a sharp stone tool. The injury, described in Scientific Reports on June 30, is thought to be the earliest documented case of sharp-force trauma in the archaeological record. The individual, Qafzeh 25, was a young adult male buried alongside children. The wound on the left side of his face suggests a face-to-face confrontation, probably by a right-handed attacker. He survived for a significant period, as the wound healed without infection. The cave, discovered in 1933 by René Neuville, contains remains of at least 27 Homo sapiens dating between 145,000 and 92,000 years ago, making them some of the earliest modern humans outside Africa. Qafzeh is also considered the oldest-known intentional burial site. The study provides evidence of interpersonal violence, care for the injured, and funerary practices among early humans. Additionally, the population at Qafzeh shows an unusually high rate of cavities (40%), puzzling researchers. Other discoveries at the site include perforated shells likely used as jewelry and stone artifacts with geometric engravings, indicating advanced cognitive and symbolic behavior.