Neanderthal Dentistry | The Institute for Creation Research

Neanderthal Dentistry

How human-like were Neanderthals?1 Apparently human enough to try some dentistry, but it didn’t work too well.

University of Kansas anthropologist David Frayer led a study of a Neanderthal’s teeth. Toothpick grooves, breaks, and scratches show that the owner was trying to treat a terrible toothache. Frayer told KU News, “It was an interesting connection or collection of phenomena that fit together in a way that we would expect a modern human to do.”2

This suffering Neanderthal died long ago in what we today call Croatia. Frayer and colleagues had already described Neanderthal eagle claw jewelry from the same site at Krapina.3

If someone or something scratched those teeth after the person had died, then the tooth marks would not have ended up on the tongue side like they did.

Neanderthal men and women were fully human genetically.4 Their jewelry, genetic similarity to modern humans, and now dentistry all fit the Bible-based contention that Neanderthals were fully human—descended from Noah like the rest of us.

References

  1. Neanderthal with an “h” and Neandertal without an “h” are used interchangeably in scientific literature.
  2. Diepenbrock, G. Analysis of Neanderthal teeth marks uncovers evidence of prehistoric dentistry. KU News. Posted on news.ku.edu June 28, 2017, accessed July 10, 2017.
  3. Radovčić, D., et al. 2015. Evidence for Neandertal Jewelry: Modified White-Tailed Eagle Claws at Krapina. PLOS ONE. 10 (3): e0119802.
  4. Prüfer, K., et al. 2014. The complete genome sequence of a Neanderthal from the Altai Mountains. Nature. 505 (7481): 43-49. See also Tomkins, J. DNA Proof That Neandertals Are Just Humans. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org February 21, 2014, accessed July 3, 2017. 

*Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.

Article posted on July 13, 2017.

The Latest
NEWS
Creation's Easter Message
While many Christians still consider the creation doctrine a fringe issue, a proper understanding of the Christian message finds creation at its core...

NEWS
ICR Veteran Don Barber Retires
Don Barber   After 34 years with the Institute for Creation Research, Director of Enterprise Technology Don Barber will retire...

CREATION.LIVE PODCAST
The Sanctity of Life | Creation.Live Podcast: Episode 23
Abortion is a big issue culturally and in the church. How can believers love our neighbors and act as the hands and feet of Christ when it comes...

NEWS
Plant Receptors Are Designed to Control Immunity and Development
God has designed plants to continuously track their environment.1 They do so with specially designed detectors (also called receptors) on...

CREATION PODCAST
Homo Naledi: The Lies Behind Evolution's Rising Star | The Creation...
Homo naledi, once evolution's 'rising star,' was considered to be a prime example of human evolution. But is it really proof? Or...

NEWS
A Subsurface Ocean on Mimas?
Scientists have analyzed data obtained from the Cassini spacecraft and concluded that irregularities in the orbit of Saturn’s moon Mimas indicate...

NEWS
In Theaters March 20 & 21: The Ark and the Darkness
Is Genesis true? What about Noah’s Flood? How did Noah fit the animals on the ark? Wasn’t it a local flood? Have you asked these questions? Though...

NEWS
Enigmatic Fossil Plants
The pre-Flood world thousands of years ago was unlike the world of today.1 Unfamiliar animals and plants were common, and there were a lot...

NEWS
Surprisingly Colorful Fossil Snail Shells
Finding organic compounds such as flexible dinosaur collagen and complete bone cells1,2 is becoming common, much to the shock and consternation...

NEWS
March 2024 ICR Wallpaper
"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:6 NKJV) ICR March 2024 wallpaper is now available for mobile, tablet,...