Spear wound in 75,000-year-old Neanderthal bone may be oldest evidence of lethal violence
A 1.5cm hole in a Neanderthal shoulder blade found in Shanidar Cave, Iraqi Kurdistan, is the oldest evidence of a human ancestor being killed by a wooden spear. The individual, who died over 70,000 years ago, also had a split tooth and was buried in a small depression with other Neanderthals. Researchers debate whether the fatal wound was a hunting accident or intentional violence.