Neanderthals used stone drills to treat cavities 59,000 years ago, tooth suggests

"Neanderthals used stone drills to treat cavities almost 60,000 years ago in what is the earliest known evidence of dental treatment. The single molar, which was unearthed in a cave in southern Siberia, features a deep hole that appears to have been created using a sharp, thin stone tool during the lifetime of the tooth's owner."

"The smoothed edges of the drilled cavity, and wear patterns inside it, suggested the individual survived and continued to chew with the tooth for some time after the procedure. The tooth, which has been dated to be 59,000 years old, was found in Chagyrskaya, where the remains of Neanderthals and thousands of stone tools have been excavated."

"This discovery powerfully reinforces the now well-supported view that Neanderthals were not the brutish, inferior cousins of outdated stereotypes but a sophisticated human population with complex cognitive and cultural capacities. [It] adds an entirely new dimension invasive medical treatment to the growing list of advanced Neanderthal behaviours."

"This is the first time dental drilling has been demonstrated outside of Homo sapiens, and it is the oldest example of such behaviour by more than 40,000 years. If I was marking this for a dental student, I wouldn't give it an A, but given the circumstances it's pretty impressive."

A Neanderthal molar from southern Siberia shows a deep cavity created during the tooth owner’s lifetime using a sharp, thin stone tool. The drilled cavity has smoothed edges and internal wear patterns consistent with continued chewing after the procedure. The tooth was dated to about 59,000 years old and was found at Chagyrskaya, where Neanderthal remains and many stone tools have been excavated. The evidence represents the earliest known invasive dental treatment, demonstrating drilling outside Homo sapiens and predating similar behavior by more than 40,000 years. The findings support the view that Neanderthals had advanced cognitive and cultural capacities.

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