AI Generated Image
Ancient human relative cannibalized both adults and children in a cave in Spain 850,000 years ago, fossils...
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Cut marks indicative of cannibalism have been found on fossils of Homo antecessor, an ancient human relative, in Gran Dolina cave, Spain, dating back 850,000 years.
- Newly discovered bones include adults, challenging previous beliefs that cannibalism at the site involved mostly children and juveniles.
- At least 13 individuals have been identified at the site, with about half being adults, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the population.
- Stone tools matching cut marks on human bones and evidence of human bite marks confirm butchering and consumption of group members.
- Researchers are conducting further analyses to understand the reasons behind cannibalism, its frequency, and the social structure of H. antecessor groups.
