Ancient Neanderthal spear wound hints lethal violence was more common than thought

A roughly 75,000-year-old skeleton bearing a spear wound has been cited as evidence that violence played a larger role in Neanderthal life than previously assumed. The injury suggests that deadly conflict may have occurred far earlier in human history than researchers had believed. The find adds to ongoing debate over how often Neanderthals fought one another or faced threats from other groups. Because the wound points to a weapon-inflicted attack, it is being read as a sign that lethal confrontation was a recurring feature of their world. The findings continue to shape scientific discussion about the social pressures and dangers that defined early human societies.