A new study published in Scientific Reports examines the remains of a Neanderthal man in his 40s, discovered in Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan. The site has yielded numerous Neanderthal remains since excavations began in 1953.
The individual, designated Shanidar A, was found tucked behind a large rock near the cave mouth. Over subsequent years or decades, the remains of at least four other Neanderthal individuals were placed directly above, suggesting intentional burial.
Lead author Dr Emma Pomeroy, an archaeologist at the University of Cambridge, said the remains show evidence of both care and violence. "We see evidence of two contrasting facets of human nature — care and violence — juxtaposed in the same individual," Dr Pomeroy said.
The Neanderthal's teeth show significant damage, including a front tooth split in half, likely from a heavy blow to the face. The broken edge became covered in hardened plaque, indicating the man survived the injury and continued living. "The injury would have been incredibly painful," Dr Pomeroy said. The researchers suggest this may indicate the man received care and support from his group, at least in the short term.
However, the most striking evidence concerns the cause of death. An unusual, smooth-edged circular hole in the shoulder blade showed no signs of healing, and bone fragments nearby suggest the injury occurred around the time of death. The team proposes a wooden spear penetrated the shoulder, potentially piercing muscle, bones, and organs.
"We have a tendency to romanticise hunter-gatherer or pre-agriculture lifestyles as peaceful and close to the natural world … but it's not that simple," Dr Pomeroy added.
Not all experts are convinced by the study's conclusions. Some have expressed skepticism about whether the hole in the shoulder blade definitively represents a spear wound, though the researchers maintain it is the most likely explanation.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence that Neanderthals engaged in complex behaviours including burial, care for the injured, and interpersonal violence.