Cambridge researchers have re-examined Shanidar A, a Neanderthal man of about 45 found in a cave in Iraqi Kurdistan. A round hole of 15 millimetres in his left shoulder blade suggests a sharpened wooden spear passed through his chest. If so, it may be the oldest fossil evidence of fatal violence with such a weapon, although the team says a hunting accident cannot be ruled out. The same man had survived a severe blow to the face for at least a year, which hints that others cared for him. The study appeared in Scientific Reports.

For freethinkers this is evolution at its most human: evidence-based detective work that shows both violence and compassion long before any written scripture.

Source: ScienceDaily (University of Cambridge) (2026-10-31)

Summarised by the FTI newsdesk.