Science Reveals Neanderthals Had Dentists 60,000 Years Ago

科学揭示六万年前尼安德特人已有牙医

New Scientist Podcasts

2026-05-15

20 分钟
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Episode 369 A strange tooth found in a Siberian cave has pushed back the earliest evidence of dentistry by 45,000 years. The weird thing is, the evidence comes from a Neanderthal tooth - upending what we thought these ancient humans were capable of. Markings on the 60,000-year-old molar show Neanderthals may have used stone tools to “drill” the tooth to treat dental decay. A team of scientists has recreated the experience - and it sounds gruesome. And that’s not all for Neanderthal news - as archaeologists have discovered an ancient kneeprint made in clay around 175,000 years ago. It was found in a cave containing a mysterious stalagmite circle that may have been deliberately constructed. Could this suggest Neanderthals were engaging in some sort of religious practice? Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist’s Sam Wong and Michael le Page to discuss these two discoveries Listen to Change Your Mind, the new podcast from New Scientist: https://podfollow.com/1896636265 To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  • Penny, what do you think a visit to the dentist was like 60,000 years ago?

  • Absolutely terrifying.

  • Don't make me do this.

  • We are doing this.

  • That's what we're doing.

  • Travelling back in time to. 60,000 years ago, the earliest evidence of dentistry from a cave in Siberia.

  • Right.

  • And guess what?

  • What?

  • It's a Neanderthal dentist.

  • A Neanderthal dentist.