59,000-year-old Neanderthal tooth shows earliest evidence of dentistry

CNN·May 13

✦ NabkaNews BriefAuto-summarized from multiple outlets · verify with the source

A 59,000-year-old Neanderthal tooth has been found, with evidence suggesting it may be the earliest known example of dentistry. The tooth, which is from Siberia, appears to have been drilled into, possibly to treat a cavity. Some outlets report this as the first confirmed evidence of Neanderthal dentistry, while others frame it as a possibility, indicating that the finding may be the oldest known dental treatment.

Full coverage

59,000-year-old Neanderthal tooth may be oldest evidence of dentistry

Scientific American·May 13

First evidence of Neandertal dentistry found in ancient molar

Science News·May 13

Oldest known dental treatment found in 59,000-year-old Neanderthal tooth from Siberia

Archaeology News Online Magazine·May 14

Neanderthals Got Cavities, Too—and New Research Suggests They Drilled Into Their Teeth to Treat Them, Just Like Modern Dentists

Smithsonian Magazine·May 15

Neanderthals treated a dental cavity by drilling into the tooth

New Scientist·May 13

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

The Guardian·May 13

Neanderthals may have drilled out a cavity 59,000 years ago

NPR·May 13

Oldest evidence of dentistry found in 59,000-year-old Neanderthal tooth

ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation·May 13

View original report at CNN ↗

Fetching the latest headlines…