Neanderthals Performed Dental Treatment 59,000 Years Ago in Siberia

Earliest grounds for invasive mitigation of dental caries by Neanderthals. Credit: Alisa V. Zubova / CC BY 4.0

Neanderthals performed dental attraction acold earlier than erstwhile believed, according to a caller survey that examined a damaged molar from a cave successful Siberia.

The study, led by Alisa V. Zubova and published successful PLOS One, suggests Neanderthals whitethorn person drilled into a diseased bony astir 59,000 years ago. Researchers accidental the find could beryllium the earliest known grounds of invasive dental attraction successful quality evolution.

A achy bony from Siberia

The bony came from Chagyrskaya Cave successful the Altai Mountains of southwestern Siberia. The tract has produced 1 of the richest collections of Neanderthal remains successful North Asia.

Researchers studied a little molar known arsenic Chagyrskaya 64. The bony belonged to an big Neanderthal. It had terrible wear, heavy decay, and a ample hollow country connected its chewing surface.

The hollow reached the pulp chamber, the interior portion of the bony that contains nerves and humor vessels. Such harm would apt person caused aggravated pain.

Signs of deliberate drilling

The squad utilized microscopes, micro-CT scans, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy to survey the tooth. They recovered that the hollow did not look to travel from mean wear, trauma, oregon earthy harm aft burial.

A 59,000-year-old Neanderthal bony from Siberia whitethorn incorporate the earliest known grounds of dental attraction successful quality history.

Researchers accidental Neanderthals apt utilized crisp chromatic tools to drill into a decayed molar to relieve symptom — thousands of years. pic.twitter.com/CUTEXFXuxM

— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) May 14, 2026

Instead, the signifier and marks suggested deliberate action. The cavity appeared to see 3 connected depressions. Researchers besides recovered good scratches and grooves on the walls of the hollow.

To trial the idea, the squad utilized tiny chromatic tools connected modern quality molars. The experiments showed that a pointed chromatic instrumentality could make akin marks done a drilling oregon rotating motion.

Researchers said the Neanderthal bony apt had a heavy cavity caused by decay. Someone whitethorn person removed damaged insubstantial to scope the achy pulp chamber.

More than toothpick use

The molar besides showed marks from toothpicking. That means the idiosyncratic whitethorn person utilized much than 1 method to woody with dental pain.

Toothpick marks person been recovered successful earlier quality relatives and adjacent successful immoderate primates. But drilling into a tooth would necessitate much planning, control, and skill.

The survey says this enactment apt progressive cautious manus movement, instrumentality selection, and symptom tolerance. It besides suggests Neanderthals whitethorn person understood that removing damaged insubstantial could trim suffering.

A caller presumption of Neanderthal care

The finding adds to increasing grounds that Neanderthals were not elemental oregon primitive. Previous studies person shown they cared for injured radical members, utilized tools with skill, and adapted to harsh environments.

The Chagyrskaya molar whitethorn present propulsion the past of dental attraction backmost tens of thousands of years earlier akin grounds successful modern humans.

Researchers said the bony offers uncommon penetration into Neanderthal wellness care. It suggests they whitethorn person carried retired deliberate aesculapian actions, not conscionable instinctive responses to pain.