Neanderthals Performed Root Canal 60,000 Years Ago, Study Finds

An international team of scientists has found evidence that Neanderthals performed a root canal nearly 60,000 years ago, the oldest known example of invasive dental treatment. This discovery predates the earliest known dentistry in Homo sapiens by tens of thousands of years. The procedure involved drilling a hole in a lower molar to remove infected tissue, as described in a study published in PLOS ONE on May 13. The authors note that this medical treatment brings Neanderthal behaviour closer to modern humans, differentiating it from instinctive actions of other primates.