{
  "id": 14728593,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T15:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "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 75,000-year-old Neanderthal skeleton found in an Iraqi-Kurdistan cave reveals the individual died after being violently attacked with a wooden spear. The spear penetrated the shoulder blade, causing a heart shot that resulted in a rapid death. Evidence of a prior facial injury suggests the Neanderthal required care for a year prior to their demise. The remains, including a well-preserved scapula bone and partially damaged teeth, were found under 8 meters of sediment, providing crucial insights into Neanderthal behavior and social dynamics.",
  "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 UAE",
        "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",
        "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."
}