A 12,000-year-old skeleton, TBH1, unearthed in Vietnam's Tràng An Landscape Complex, reveals the oldest human mitochondrial DNA in the region. The male skeleton shows a neck injury from a quartz projectile, resulting in a fatal infection months later. The injury suggests potential conflict between hunter-gatherers during the Pleistocene era, offering rare insight into early human interactions in Southeast Asia. The well-preserved remains, including a nearly complete skull and skeleton, and the presence of the quartz projectile point, provide valuable data for understanding past societies.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.