TechTECH UPDATE

Spear wound may be 75,000 years old, per new reports

The remains, excavated in an Iraqi Kurdistan cave, include a shoulder blade with a smooth round hole; researchers say it may be the earliest spear-kill evidence.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on BBN Tonight
Published 8:58 PM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

At a glance

First reported by ScienceAlert: “Oldest Known Spear Attack May Be Found in 75,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Remains”, with reporting from The Guardian.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 8:58 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

ScienceAlertOldest Known Spear Attack May Be Found in 75,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Remains
The GuardianNeanderthal remains may be earliest human ancestor find killed by a spear

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentScienceAlert now puts the Neanderthal's age near seventy-five thousand years, and says the wound sits in the left shoulder blade of a skeleton known as Shanidar A.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo we're looking at a smooth round hole as evidence, but researchers aren't certain it came from a spear, correct?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentRight.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentResearchers say it may be the oldest sign of a human ancestor killed by a wooden spear, and may is carrying a lot of weight there.