Overview
- The peer‑reviewed PLOS One paper published Wednesday reports a 59,000‑year‑old molar from Chagyrskaya Cave in Siberia was drilled while the owner was alive.
- Micro‑CT imaging found a deep concavity reaching the pulp chamber with rotational marks, and replication with fine jasper points on human teeth produced matching traces.
- Polished edges and continued wear show the individual survived the procedure and kept using the tooth, which likely eased pain by releasing pressure and removing decay.
- If read as treatment, the find is the oldest invasive dental intervention by about 40,000 years, predating a 14,000‑year‑old Homo sapiens example from Italy.
- The team plans residue tests to check for possible fillings and urges fresh reviews of other fossils, while outside experts endorse caution about broad claims from a single specimen.