Neanderthal Shanidar A: Evidence of Care and Homicide 75,000 Years Ago

Analysis of the Neanderthal skeleton Shanidar A, excavated seven years ago from Shanidar Cave in northern Iraq, indicates he was killed by a spear wound, making it one of the oldest known hominid murders. The same skeleton shows signs of long-term care, suggesting the individual survived with disabilities for years before the fatal attack. This provides new insights into Neanderthal social behavior and interpersonal violence, though the interpretation of the cause of death remains an inference from skeletal evidence.