Neanderthals are often depicted as primitive beings, incapable of advanced thought or action. However, a recent discovery is challenging this view and suggesting that our distant cousins might have been more sophisticated than we once thought. A study led by David Frayer, professor emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Kansas, has uncovered evidence of Neanderthals attempting to treat their dental problems, potentially using primitive forms of dentistry as far back as 130,000 years ago.
The discovery centers around several teeth from a Neanderthal found at the Krapina site in Croatia, an archaeological site that has yielded significant insights into Neanderthal life. The teeth, analyzed by Frayer and his colleagues, bear unusual marks that suggest the Neanderthal was trying to address a dental issue, possibly even a toothache, by manipulating the teeth with some form of tool. This research, published in the Bulletin of the International Association for Paleodontology, provides fascinating evidence of early dental care in Neanderthals, a practice once thought to be exclusive to modern humans.
The study focuses on four teeth that were isolated but associated with one another in the left side of the Neanderthal’s mouth. These teeth—two molars and a premolar—were discovered more than 100 years ago, but it wasn’t until recent years that Frayer and his collaborators revisited them. While the fossils were found during the 1899–1905 excavation of the Krapina site, the reanalysis of these specimens has provided new insights into the dental practices of Neanderthals.
Frayer, along with co-authors Joseph Gatti, a Lawrence dentist; Janet Monge of the University of Pennsylvania; and Davorka Radovčić, curator at the Croatian Natural History Museum, used a light microscope to analyze the teeth for occlusal wear, toothpick groove formation, dentin scratches, and other signs of dental manipulation. These features indicated that the Neanderthal was dealing with some form of dental discomfort, likely caused by an impacted tooth or other dental issue. The grooves found on the teeth were identified as toothpick marks—scratches or grooves that are typically left when something is pushed into the mouth to manipulate or clean the teeth.
What makes this discovery so remarkable is that these grooves were not random or incidental. They were concentrated around the premolar and third molar and were aligned in a way that suggested the Neanderthal was attempting to address an issue with these teeth. The grooves themselves appeared to have been made by an object that was pushed into the mouth, possibly a bone, a twig, or even a stem of grass, which the Neanderthal might have used to manipulate the teeth. This implies that, like modern humans, Neanderthals may have experienced dental pain and sought to alleviate it, possibly even using tools or objects to attempt to fix or manage their oral discomfort.
Frayer’s analysis also revealed that the premolar and third molar had been pushed out of their normal positions, which could have been caused by dental eruption problems or infection. The grooves on the teeth, particularly on the tongue side, showed signs of irritation, suggesting that the Neanderthal had been trying to address this problem over an extended period. Additionally, some of the teeth displayed fractures and scratches that were located in a way that ruled out post-mortem damage, indicating that these marks occurred while the Neanderthal was alive and actively manipulating their teeth.
While this discovery adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that Neanderthals had a more complex relationship with their environment and their bodies than previously thought, it is also notable because it marks a clear example of dental care in prehistory. The presence of toothpick grooves is not new to the fossil record; similar marks have been found dating back nearly 2 million years. However, what is different about this specimen is the combination of evidence—grooves, scratches, and fractures—that suggest a conscious effort to treat a dental issue.
Previous research has suggested that Neanderthals may have used rudimentary tools to address other health problems, and the discovery at Krapina further supports this theory. For example, the Krapina Neanderthals were known to have fashioned eagle talons into jewelry, a discovery that challenged the long-held belief that Neanderthals were incapable of creating symbolic or decorative objects. This new study aligns with that view, showing that Neanderthals could modify their environment and even engage in personal health care using tools.
The idea that Neanderthals may have sought relief from toothaches or other dental problems through self-medication or self-treatment with primitive tools challenges the old stereotype of Neanderthals as mindless brutes. Instead, it suggests that they were capable of complex behaviors and cognitive abilities that were once thought to be unique to modern humans. The evidence of tooth manipulation at Krapina supports the idea that Neanderthals, much like us, were capable of using tools to solve practical problems and that they had some understanding of how to care for their own bodies.
While the exact methods or tools used by Neanderthals to address their dental problems remain speculative, this discovery highlights the possibility that they employed the same kind of resourcefulness that humans do today when faced with medical issues. The fact that this Neanderthal attempted to alleviate a toothache with available resources speaks to a level of ingenuity and self-care that has often been underestimated in prehistoric populations.
The research team acknowledges that while we may never know for sure what exactly the Neanderthal used to treat their dental issues, the toothpick grooves provide a window into a forgotten chapter of human history. The dental manipulations described in the study not only offer new insights into Neanderthal behavior but also contribute to a broader understanding of the evolution of human-like traits, such as problem-solving and tool use.
This finding also raises intriguing questions about the similarities and differences between Neanderthals and modern humans. While we share a common ancestor with Neanderthals, their behavior and capabilities were shaped by different evolutionary pressures. Understanding how Neanderthals treated ailments like toothaches can offer clues about the cognitive and social lives of early humans and their close relatives.
The discovery of toothpick grooves and dental manipulations in Neanderthals is an exciting development in the field of paleoanthropology. It adds another layer to our understanding of Neanderthal life and challenges conventional views of prehistoric human health. It also underscores the importance of reexamining old fossils with new techniques, as this research demonstrates how much more we can learn from specimens that have been sitting in museum collections for over a century.