{
  "id": 14725641,
  "title": "Earliest evidence of human ancestor killed with wooden spear found in Iraqi cave",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/earliest-evidence-of-human-ancestor-killed-with-wooden-spear-found-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T15:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/10/15/earliest-evidence-of-human-ancestor-killed-with-wooden-spear-found-in-iraqi-cave/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Neanderthal named Shanidar A, who lived 75,000 years ago, died a violent death after a year of being cared for, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. The cause of death was a sharpened wooden spear piercing his shoulder blade, with a 15mm circular hole evidence of a \"heart shot\" that would have caused rapid death. This is the earliest known example of lethal violence using a wooden spear, archaeologists believe. The study, led by Professor Graeme Barker from Cambridge University, also revealed that Shanidar A had suffered a brutal facial injury a year before his death, indicating he required care from others. Tiny bone fragments helped reconstruct the trajectory of the spear, showing it was a spear tip or flint rather than a different type of weapon. The preserved scapula, or shoulder blade, along with other remains, suggests Neanderthals developed woodworking and weapon-making skills long before Shanidar A's death.",
  "summary": "Remains of a Neanderthal found in an Iraqi-Kurdistan cave reveal he died a violent death after more than a year of being cared for in agonising pain, a study has shown. The killing 75,000 years ago involved a sharpened wooden spear and may be the earliest example of lethal violence using such a weapon, archaeologists believe. A 15mm circular hole in the shoulder blade suggests a “heart shot”, in…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Earliest evidence of human ancestor killed with wooden spear found in Iraqi cave",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/earliest-evidence-of-human-ancestor-killed-with-wooden-spear-found-in-14728593",
        "published": "2026-10-15T15:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}