59,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Molar Shows Evidence of Drilling to Treat Cavity

A Neanderthal molar, estimated to be 59,000 years old, was found in Chagryskaya Cave located in the Altai Mountains of Siberia, Russia, revealing signs of intentional drilling for cavity treatment, as detailed in a recent PLOS One study. This lower second molar features a significant curved hole that extends from the chewing surface to the pulp chamber, with scrapes and rotational marks suggesting the use of a jasper stone tool. Researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences, led by Alisa Zubova along with Andrey Krivoshapkin and Kseniya Kolobova, propose that the procedure was likely conducted by a peer or family member to alleviate pressure and extract infected tissue, evidenced by the tooth's polish from subsequent use. This finding pushes back the timeline for dental practices by approximately 45,000 years, indicating that Neanderthals had advanced cognitive and motor skills for medical interventions. The team successfully replicated the drilling technique on human molars, discovering that skill was necessary to prevent tooth damage. However, Rachel Kalisher, a bioarchaeologist from UC San Diego who did not participate in the study, warns that alternative explanations should not be dismissed, even though she recognizes the evidence supports Neanderthal intelligence.