Neanderthals used wood for tools, shelters — and possibly a killing spear

Neanderthals used wood for tools, shelters — and possibly a killing spear

Neanderthals used wood for tools, shelters — and possibly a killing spear

New research shows Neanderthals made far more use of wood than the surviving record suggests, shaping it into tools, possible weapons and parts of shelters and camp structures. Hundreds of wooden traces found at a rock shelter in Spain point to wood being used to organise living spaces around hearths as well as for everyday tasks. Separately, the remains of a Neanderthal known as Shanidar A, found in a cave in Iraqi Kurdistan and about 75,000 years old, carry a round hole in the shoulder blade that researchers say was likely made by a sharpened wooden spear — possibly the earliest known case of one hominin killing another with a wooden spear, though a hunting accident cannot be ruled out.

New research shows Neanderthals made far more use of wood than the surviving record suggests, shaping it into tools, possible weapons and parts of shelters and camp structures. Hundreds of wooden traces found at a rock shelter in Spain point to wood being used to organise living spaces around hearths as well as for everyday tasks. Separately, the remains of a Neanderthal known as Shanidar A, found in a cave in Iraqi Kurdistan and about 75,000 years old, carry a round hole in the shoulder blade that researchers say was likely made by a sharpened wooden spear — possibly the earliest known case of one hominin killing another with a wooden spear, though a hunting accident cannot be ruled out.

New research shows Neanderthals made far more use of wood than the surviving record suggests, shaping it into tools, possible weapons and parts of shelters and camp structures. Hundreds of wooden traces found at a rock shelter in Spain point to wood being used to organise living spaces around hearths as well as for everyday tasks. Separately, the remains of a Neanderthal known as Shanidar A, found in a cave in Iraqi Kurdistan and about 75,000 years old, carry a round hole in the shoulder blade that researchers say was likely made by a sharpened wooden spear — possibly the earliest known case of one hominin killing another with a wooden spear, though a hunting accident cannot be ruled out.