August 2009 PMID 19615713

Shanidar 3 Neandertal rib puncture wound and paleolithic weaponry.

Steven E Churchill, Robert G Franciscus, Hilary A McKean-Peraza, Julie A Daniel, Brittany R Warren

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Mentions

Peak: 1 in May 2021

across 5 sources since May 2021

Extended reach

2,538,960

potential audience

Total likes

38,187

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May 2021 – Jun 2025

Where it's discussed

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions highlight ongoing debates about Neandertal violence and extinction causes, with remarks like questioning the focus on genocide and mentioning species' conflicts. The tone suggests curiosity but lacks detailed analysis, indicating moderate interest and engagement without a strong consensus or impact.

AgreementNeither agree nor disagree

The discussions show some neutrality, with a slight openness to alternative interpretations like violence or genocide theories, rather than outright disagreement.

InterestModerate interest

Participants display moderate curiosity, especially about the implications of the Neandertal injury evidence and its relevance to broader debates.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments reflect active engagement, pondering on the evidence and historical interactions, though they are mostly surface-level rather than deeply analytical.

ImpactNeutral impact

The discussions seem to have minimal immediate influence but touch on significant questions regarding human and Neandertal interactions.

Abstract in brief

The study examines a Neandertal rib wound from Shanidar 3 to determine if it was caused by a spear or projectile weapon by comparing experimental injury patterns on animal ribs with the fossil injury.
Experimental results suggest that the injury to Shanidar 3 was likely caused by a low-energy projectile rather than a high-energy thrusting spear, based on the lesion's characteristics such as the absence of multiple rib involvement and specific fracture patterns.
The findings imply that Neandertals might have used projectile weapons, which overlaps with the period when early modern humans appeared in western Asia, highlighting broader questions about technological development in Paleolithic times.

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All mentions

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Kambiz Kamrani · Jun 1, 2025 350 views

Shanidar Cave and Neanderthal Discoveries in Iraqi Kurdistan

Exploring the archaeological findings at Shanidar Cave, including Neanderthal remains, and discussing their significance in understanding early human history and Neanderthal life.

PaiHuaiTe · Jan 20, 2025 113 views

Calixto Lopez

@NerdyCalixto · X

RT @badanthropolog1: It's funny they didn't even go for the Neandertal genocide theory, which at least has the benefit of maybe one piece o…

May 2, 2023 · 1 share · 1,437 followers View post →

Bad Anthropology Takes (Real Parody)

@badanthropolog1 · X

It's funny they didn't even go for the Neandertal genocide theory, which at least has the benefit of maybe one piece of evidence supporting it. https://t.co/mnePgc7bb3

Apr 28, 2023 · 4 likes · 1 share · 1,675 followers View post →