Neanderthals' Birch Bark Tar Likely Served as Ancient Antibiotic

Researchers have recreated ancient birch bark tar production techniques and found that every sample tested could inhibit the growth of bacteria responsible for dangerous wound infections. The sticky substance, long known mainly as a prehistoric glue, may have doubled as a surprisingly effective natural medicine used by Neanderthals to treat wounds thousands of years before modern antibiotics existed. This discovery suggests that early humans possessed sophisticated wound‑care practices and that birch tar’s antimicrobial properties were recognized and utilized in prehistoric times.