Researchers have confirmed that Neanderthals performed primitive dental surgery to treat a toothache roughly 59,000 years ago. Analysis of a molar from Chagyrskaya Cave in Siberia revealed holes and striations consistent with drilling. Experimental replication using stone tools on a researcher's own tooth matched the ancient marks exactly.

This represents far more than basic caregiving. "Treating a carious tooth requires diagnosing the source of pain, selecting an appropriate tool, performing a painful, invasive action, and persisting despite the patient's discomfort," explained researcher Kolobova. The patient survived and used the tooth for years afterward, showing normal wear patterns. Neanderthals likely used natural painkillers like chamomile and yarrow.

The find pushes back the timeline for skilled medical treatment significantly. While earlier hominins cared for injured members by bringing food, this level of intervention—essentially minor surgery—demonstrates cognitive abilities and planning previously underappreciated in Neanderthals.