Here is what the page “Neanderthal Shoulder Wound in Iraq Suggests Earliest Wooden Spear Attack” contains. A Neanderthal shoulder blade with a round puncture wound, found in Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan, may be the earliest evidence of a fatal wooden spear attack on a human ancestor. Researchers believe the injury likely came from a thrown spear, making it the oldest known case of lethal interpersonal violence with such a weapon in the hominin fossil record. The partial remains, known as Shanidar 3, date to around 50,000 years ago and show a wound that partially healed before death, suggesting the individual survived for weeks.
This discovery challenges assumptions about Neanderthal behavior and social interactions, indicating they engaged in violent conflicts similar to modern humans. The finding also highlights the sophistication of their weapons and the risks of close-range hunting or combat. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.