National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Photo: Human Likely Killed Neanderthal, Weapons Test Shows


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Anthropologist Steven Churchill holds up models of a Neanderthal spear (right) and an ancient spear-throwing weapon made by anatomically modern humans.

Using a special crossbow to inflict wounds on pig carcasses, Churchill's team has shown that a Neanderthal who died between 50,000 and 75,000 years ago may have been killed by a modern human armed with a projectile weapon.

Photograph courtesy Duke University, Les Todd