Researchers believe a 59,000-year-old Neanderthal tooth discovered in Siberia may contain the earliest known evidence of dentistry, predating previous examples by more than 40,000 years. (Image: Reuters)Scientists have uncovered what may be the earliest known evidence of dentistry, but surprisingly, modern humans may not have practised it.A new study led by researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences suggests Neanderthals carried out a sophisticated dental procedure around 59,000 years ago, thousands of years before the earliest previously known example of dentistry.The discovery centres on an ancient molar found in Chagyrskaya Cave in Siberia, Russia. The tooth contains a deep hole in its centre, which researchers believe was deliberately drilled using a sharp stone tool to remove infected tissue and relieve pain.If confirmed, the finding would push back the history of dentistry by more than 40,000 years. The previous oldest evidence of dental treatment came from a human specimen discovered in Italy, dating back roughly 14,000 years.Using advanced microtomography imaging, researchers examined the tooth in extreme detail and identified microscopic grooves and marks consistent with deliberate drilling rather than natural wear or decay.Also Read | Study reveals sex bias in Neanderthal-human interbreedingTo better understand how the hole may have been created, the team carried out experiments on modern human teeth using replica stone tools similar to those available to Neanderthals during the Middle Palaeolithic period. According to the researchers, the tests successfully reproduced similar patterns and damage.The study’s authors say the procedure would have been technically difficult, especially considering it was performed inside the mouth without anaesthesia.Story continues below this adResearchers believe the Neanderthal patient likely endured significant pain during the treatment, but the procedure may have successfully reduced pressure and inflammation caused by severe tooth decay.The findings also add to growing evidence that Neanderthals were more socially and intellectually advanced than once believed. Scientists increasingly think Neanderthal communities regularly cared for injured and sick members rather than abandoning them.Lead researcher Dr Aliza Zubova said the discovery was particularly striking because it suggested the individual understood where the pain originated and recognised that removing part of the damaged tissue could help.Also Read | Archaeologists Find Oldest Evidence of Fire-MakingThe researchers noted that carrying out such a procedure would likely have required patience, precision, and possibly assistance from another individual helping to keep the patient still.Story continues below this adBeyond its implications for dentistry, the study contributes to a broader reassessment of Neanderthals, who were once widely portrayed as primitive compared to Homo sapiens.xInstead, the evidence increasingly points to a species capable of complex problem-solving, healthcare practices and social cooperation long before modern civilisation emerged. © IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:Neanderthals