Never mind Band-Aids, Neanderthals had antiseptic birch tar

Recent research shows Neanderthals may have used birch tar not only as adhesive but also as antiseptic medicine. Scientists tested distilled birch tar against S. aureus and E. coli bacteria, finding it effective—paralleling practices of modern Indigenous peoples like the Mi'kmaq who use birch tar for wound treatment. The study extracted tar using methods ranging from simple bark burning to clay vessel heating, all consistent with Neanderthal capabilities.