Oldest Evidence of Cannibalism Found: Cut Marks on Bone Suggest Butchering and Consumption of Mysterious Human Relative

The discovery of cut marks on a bone belonging to a mysterious human relative provides evidence that they were likely butchered and consumed by their own kind 1.5 million years ago, representing the oldest known instance of cannibalism.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History researchers made this finding on the left tibia of a Homo sapiens relative that resided in present-day Kenya.

(Photo : EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)
Helene Rougier, anthropologist at California State University Northridge, in the United States, displays some of the 96 bones and three teeth from five Neanderthal individuals which were found in the Belgium Goyet cave at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, in Brussels, on December 21, 2016.

Hominins Likely Engaged in Cannibalism

The bone, as per MailOnline, was initially discovered in 1970 by paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey and has been housed at the National Museums of Kenya Nairobi Museum. It has recently undergone a reexamination by researcher Briana Pobiner to identify animal bite marks on the tibia, but she found distinctive marks resembling cross-stitching.

Pobiner said that the findings suggest that hominins were consuming other hominins as early as 1.45 million years ago, indicating a previously unrecognized extent of cannibalistic behavior within our species' relatives. The cut marks on the bone exhibit similar characteristics, featuring short, narrow linear marks with a consistent orientation and a closed-V-shaped cross-section.

The researchers noted in their study, titled "Early Pleistocene cut marked hominin fossil from Koobi Fora, Kenya" published in the journal Nature, that all the cut marks on the bone were concentrated in a specific area, suggesting that they were made successively by a hand wielding a stone tool without changing grip or adjusting the angle of attack.

However, the stone-tool cut marks do not overlap with the two bite marks present on the bone, making it difficult to determine the exact sequence of events. It is plausible that after the hominins removed most of the meat from the leg bone, a large cat scavenged the remains, or alternatively, a large cat may have killed a hominin, and opportunistic hominins took over the carcass.

Pobiner emphasized that the cut marks resemble those observed on animal bones processed for consumption. While it is possible that the meat from this leg bone was eaten for nutritional purposes rather than for ritualistic reasons, the exact motive behind the cannibalistic behavior remains uncertain.

Nonetheless, this fossil could indicate prehistoric cannibalism or potentially reflect one species consuming its evolutionary cousin. Further research and evidence are necessary to fully understand the nature and motivations behind the observed cut marks.

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History of Cannibalism

According to Britannica, cannibalism is the act of humans consuming human flesh. This practice has been documented in various cultures throughout history. While early accounts may have been exaggerated, cannibalism persisted in parts of Africa, Melanesia, New Guinea, Australia, Polynesia, Sumatra, and North and South America.

In some societies, human flesh was considered a form of food, akin to animal meat. Maoris in New Zealand would consume the bodies of their foes after battles, while the Batak of Sumatra reportedly sold human flesh in markets. Ritual cannibalism in Africa often had connections to sorcery, where consuming specific body parts or organs was believed to grant certain qualities or harness supernatural powers.

Certain cultures practiced endocannibalism, where the body of a deceased person was ritually consumed by their relatives as a sign of respect. Ritual cannibalism also took place within secret societies as part of their ceremonial practices. The Aztecs notably engaged in large-scale cannibalism as part of their religious sacrifices.

The motivations for cannibalism varied among different peoples, and the practice could be perceived differently in different contexts. However, as societies modernize, cannibalism is generally prohibited. In rare cases, extreme circumstances in isolated environments may lead to cannibalistic acts in modern times.

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