A sharp stone tool cut this early human's jaw 100,000 years ago, but the healed bone shows he survived
A study of a 100,000-year-old human skeleton from Qafzeh Cave in Israel reveals evidence of a healed facial injury caused by a stone tool. This discovery suggests that early humans engaged in complex social support and survival practices.
Why it matters
The findings provide rare insight into the social structures and medical care capabilities of early Homo sapiens during the Middle Paleolithic period.
A small mark on an ancient jaw has opened a window into a moment of violence from a time far removed from written history. The remains of an early Homo sapiens individual from Qafzeh Cave in Israel have revealed signs of a serious facial injury, likely caused by a sharp stone tool. What makes the discovery unusual is not only the wound itself, but the evidence that the person survived it. The damaged bone shows signs of healing, suggesting that the injury was not immediately fatal.
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