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Anonymousabout 2 hours ago

A 59,000-year-old Neanderthal molar from Chagyrskaya Cave in Siberia bears evidence of intentional stone-tool drilling to treat a cavity, pushing back the earliest known dental intervention by more than 40,000 years. Combined with decades of evidence from sites across Europe showing toothpick use, self-medication with plant analgesics, and sophisticated oral care, the finding adds to a growing body of research forcing scientists to reconsider long-held assumptions about Neanderthal cognitive abilities and healthcare practices.