A fascinating study of dental plaques found on fossil teeth of our cousin/ancestors has revealed that Neanderthals may have used natural medicines, including Salicylic Acid, an analgesic from which aspirin was developed, and Penicillin (more precisely Penicillium mold).
Here's the article that blew me away. While I am not surprised that people have been using natural substances as medicine, given that even dogs and cats eat grass to settle their tummies, I am flabbergasted that we can find physical traces of medicine millenia later.
I also note the assumption of state government in the photo here. Clearly the defense contractors shown manufacturing weapons are being paid through government contract, as half of the workforce is doing jack-all.
