Although Neanderthals do not have the same thinking as modern humans, cannibalism does not appear to be a common practice. However, evidence was gathered across several European regions, suggesting that this practice exists among these ancient men.
The Unsettling Discovery of Juvenile Cannibalism
In June 2023, experts from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES) conducted archeological excavations at the Cova de les Teixoneres area in the Moianès region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. They discovered bone fragments of a juvenile Neanderthal, which include two pieces of the rear part of the skull.
This represents the fourth individual identified by the researchers at the cave since the discovery of the first Neanderthal on the same site in 2016. The previously discovered bone remains were assigned to a child around 6-7 years old, a juvenile over 11 years old, and an elderly individual.
All these remains from the four individuals dated to around 52,000 years ago. The bone fragments were spread over the same surface at the cave's entrance together with the bones and teeth of animals hunted by Neanderthals.
At first, researchers were puzzled why these Neanderthals remained in the cave. However, further analysis of the collarbone found at the site reveals cut marks on the surface. The archeologists conclude that these cuts and other evidence from the cave resulted from activities related to cannibalism.
The cut marks suggest that the bones were processed by other Neanderthals and were consumed by their relatives. Aside from the fact that the remains were mixed up with animal bones, the cannibalism hypothesis was also supported by the highly fragmented appearance of the skull. The bones broken up into small pieces could prove that the ancient humans tried to access the marrow to get the nutrients in the bones.
The research team's findings are not the first evidence of cannibal activities among Neanderthal, but their discovery is the first documented incident in Catalonia. Only 8-10 cases of Neanderthal cannibalism had been confirmed with reliable data, according to researcher Jordi Rosell,
Scientists find it hard to distinguish juvenile bones from those of other animals since they are highly fragmented. They try to identify more remains at the cave using specialized bio-molecular techniques.
The Life of Nomadic Hunter-Gatherers
Neanderthals, formally called Homo neanderthalensis, are the closest extinct relative of modern humans. They thrived in Europe and southwestern to central Asia around 400,000 to 40,000 years ago.
Archeological discoveries suggest that these people lived in small groups with a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They were found to be nomadic, following the herds of woolly mammoths, and their population remained relatively low. There is also evidence that small groups of Neanderthals had interacted with other clans over vast areas.
Compared with other ancient species of humans, Neanderthals are famous for being skilled tool makers. The excavation of items such as spears and flint handaxes proved this. Archeologists believe that Neanderthals used these tools for their daily activities, such as hunting and sewing.
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