News in Brief Archaeology

Ancient dental plaque tells tales of Neandertal diet and disease

upper jaw from Neandertal

Calcified dental plaque from the upper jaw of a young Neandertal male from El Sidrón cave in Spain reveals insights into his vegetarian diet and dental health problems.

Paleoanthropology Group MNCN-CSIC

By Helen Thompson

- More than 2 years ago

Plaque preserved in fossilized teeth confirms that Neandertals were flexible eaters and hints that they self-medicated with an ancient equivalent of aspirin.