May 13 : About 59,000 years ago, a Neanderthal suffered from an awful toothache caused by a deep cavity in one of the molars on the lower jaw. That tooth has now been discovered inside a Siberian cave, bearing signs of dental surgery apparently performed with a small stone tool to remove decay and relieve pain.

Evidence of Caries Treatment on a 60,000-year-old Tooth Found in Russia Pushes Back the Birth of Dentistry, a Skill That Archaeologists Didn't Expect to Encounter in Neanderthals

A 60,000-year-old Neanderthal tooth left behind in a cave in modern-day Russia contains a deep hole that cannot be explained by decay alone.