How did Neanderthals deal with illness and injuries?

Up to 94% of Neanderthals suffered at least one traumatic injury in their lifetime. How did their healthcare keep up?

If you look up where medicine originated, or the earliest medical interventions, you’ll probably find yourself reading about ancient Greece or Egypt or Mesopotamia. But what about before that? How did early humans treat illnesses or cope with injuries? What did a Neanderthal do if she broke a rib or had a toothache? 

Flora digs into these questions with archaeologist Penny Spikins and microbiologist Laura Weyrich. They chat about ancient treatments like antibiotics and root canals, why Neanderthals were always getting hurt, and how they took care of themselves—and each other.

Guests:

Dr. Penny Spikins is a professor of the archaeology of human origins at the University of York in England.

Dr. Laura Weyrich is an associate professor of anthropology and bioethics at Pennsylvania State University.

Other episodes you may enjoy:

• What Did It Feel Like To Be An Early Human?
• Your Pain Tolerance May Have Been Passed Down From Neanderthals

Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com.

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