120,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Fossil Found in a Shallow Cave Reveals Earliest Evidence of Bone Tumor

The fight against cancer has long been labeled as a modern battle, a disease deeply mingled with pollutants, lifestyles, and extended lifespans of contemporary society. However, fossil evidence has challenged this perception, indicating that cancer’s roots run far deeper in human history than previously assumed. While ancient Egyptian remains dating back 1,000–4,000 years have yielded evidence of bone tumors, scientists have now unraveled an even older case—one that predates modern civilization by well over 100,000 years, stated PLOS.Org.

A fossilized Neanderthal rib, discovered in a shallow cave at Krapina, Croatia, provides the earliest known evidence of a bone tumor in the human fossil record. This rib, dating back approximately 120,000 years, belonged to a Neanderthal who suffered from a tumor known as fibrous dysplasia. The discovery has far-reaching implications and highlights the complex and ancient history of cancer in humans. Dr. David Frayer, an anthropologist remarked, "It's the oldest tumor found in the human fossil record…It shows that living in a relatively unpolluted environment doesn't necessarily protect you against cancer, even if you were a Neanderthal living 120,000 years ago," via BBC.

The fossil was discovered at an archaeological site that has yielded almost 900 Neanderthal bone fragments along with stone tools. While the tumor’s overall impact on the individual’s health can not be determined, as the rib is an incomplete specimen, the discovery gives a direct challenge to long-held beliefs about cancer being solely a modern affliction. A medical radiologist analyzed the tumor through X-rays and CT scans, confirming that it was a lesion characteristic of fibrous dysplasia, a condition where normal bone is replaced by fibrous tissue. The report reads, "The tumor predates other evidence for these kinds of tumor by well over 100,000 years," stated Smithsonian magazine.

Intriguingly, this form of bone tumor is rare in the fossil record, making its presence in a Neanderthal specimen an extraordinary find. Some 120,000 years ago, this Neanderthal lived and eventually perished in what is at present Northern Croatia. Scientists are not sure whether the tumor caused major pain or even contributed to the individual’s death. In some cases, fibrous dysplasia remains asymptomatic, while in others, it can cause deformities. The inability to extract DNA from the fossil means researchers can’t determine more genetic factors, but they remain hopeful that further experiments may provide more clarity. The prominence of this find extends beyond the individual Neanderthal, stated BBC.

Kat Arney, science information manager at Cancer Research U.K., noted, "Some people think that cancer is only a modern disease, but there's evidence from fossils, bones, and mummies that it's actually many thousands of years old. So this discovery isn't entirely surprising, even though such finds are very rare, but it helps to shed light on the complex history of cancer in humans and our ancient relatives," via BBC. The study suggests that while environmental pollutants may contribute to cancer prevalence today, the disease itself has been present in human and pre-human populations long before industrialization.