Archaeologists Uncover Evidence of Cannibalism in Neolithic Spain

Archaeologists have made a shocking discovery in Spain that sheds new light on violence and conflict during the Neolithic period. While excavating the El Mirador cave, researchers uncovered a pile of human bones that display clear evidence of cannibalism. Signs such as human bite marks, knife cuts, and fractures intended for marrow extraction were noted in the remains. A study detailing these findings was published in the Scientific Reports journal.

The remains belong to at least 11 individuals, including children, and date back between 5,573 and 5,709 years ago. Researchers suspect these bones may represent a large family who met a violent end, as they were likely killed, skinned, and cooked in the cave before being consumed by their peers. This gruesome event appears to have occurred in the latter days of the Neolithic, also known as the New Stone Age.

Researchers assert that the cannibalism observed was likely instigated by conflict rather than ritualistic practices or famine. According to Francesc Marginedas, a co-author of the study and an evolutionary anthropologist at the Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES), “This was neither a funerary tradition nor a response to extreme famine.” He added, “The evidence points to a violent episode, given how quickly it all took place—possibly the result of conflict between neighbouring farming communities.”

The research team conducted a chemical analysis of the bones, which helped identify the victims as local individuals, likely part of a nuclear or extended family. The ages of the family members ranged from seven to 50 years, and it is believed they were killed in rapid succession.

This discovery offers a rare glimpse into conflict-driven cannibalism during the Neolithic period, which extended until around 2000 BC. Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo, another co-author and archaeologist at IPHES, noted, “Conflict and the development of strategies to manage and prevent it are part of human nature.” He emphasized that ethnographic and archaeological records illustrate that even in less stratified and smaller societies, violent episodes can occur, where enemies might be consumed as a form of ultimate elimination.

The findings from the El Mirador cave not only enhance our understanding of Neolithic society but also raise important questions about the social dynamics and conflicts that shaped human behavior during this era. As archaeological methods continue to evolve, researchers hope to uncover further insights into the lives and struggles of our ancestors.