Neanderthal May Have Done Dentistry 59,000 Years Ago

Imagine the worst toothache of your life, then imagine treating it yourself with nothing but a sharp rock. That's exactly what one Neanderthal may have done nearly 60,000 years ago in what is now Russia.

Archaeologists discovered a Neanderthal molar in Chagyrskaya Cave with a vertical hole drilled straight through the crown and down to the pulp. The tooth shows circular scratch marks that look remarkably similar to those made by early human dental work.

Researcher Lydia Zotkina wanted to test whether a Neanderthal could have done this intentionally. She collected modern human teeth (including one of her own after a dental extraction) and drilled them using jasper rock shards like those found in the cave. Under a microscope, the marks matched almost perfectly.

The findings suggest this Neanderthal wasn't just randomly poking at a sore tooth. They likely understood that drilling through the painful decay would release pressure and stop the agony. That kind of problem solving didn't appear in scientific dental literature until 1728.

Matthew Skinner, a paleoanthropologist not involved in the research, says the discovery provides new insights into Neanderthal cognitive abilities. The worn-down scratches suggest the Neanderthal continued using the tooth after the "surgery," meaning the procedure actually worked.

Not everyone is convinced this was intentional dentistry. Some experts suggest the hole could have formed from biting down on a stone, followed by years of decay. Others think the Neanderthal may have used a twisted toothpick to remove stuck food, long after any pain subsided.

Why This Inspires

Whether this was brave self-surgery or clever tool use for another purpose, the discovery adds to growing evidence that Neanderthals were more like us than we ever imagined. They didn't just survive—they solved problems, endured pain, and found ways to keep going.

Zotkina believes whoever owned this tooth showed remarkable courage. Intentionally drilling into your own infected tooth without anesthesia takes a level of determination that's hard to fathom.

This ancient molar reminds us that human resilience and ingenuity go back further than we thought.