Neanderthals Cannibals In Spain Ate Their Neighbors

Ancient Spanish Cannibals

The London Royal Society has revealed that human remains found in the El Sidron cave system in northern Spain in 1994 are those of a group of Neanderthals from 51,000 years ago who practiced cannibalism.

According to Carles Lalueza-Fox from the Barcelona Institute of Evolutionary Biology, years of modern forensics analysis, 13 years in total, revealed that the cannibals killed six adults, three teens and three young children. After killing these people, the group of cannibals did not cook them, but instead feasted upon their victims’ raw brains, bone marrow and tongues.

The bones then either fell or rain-washed from a bone pile above the cave system. They might have also been cast into the cave via an open sinkhole.

Currently, scientists believe that those eaten were the cannibals’ neighbors and that the incident either resulted from a one-sided attack or two-sided fight.

Neanderthals are not known for committing acts of cannibalism. The scientists believe this event could have happened as the result of food shortages and conflict over resources during winter even though other Neanderthal sites suggest that these early modern humans would gather in large groups to help one another survive extreme cold periods.

On THe Web:

Neanderthal Cannibals ‘Butchered Neighbouring Children and Ate Their Brains’
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/524688/20131124/neanderthal-cannibals-ate-butchered-neighbouring-villagers-el.htm

Cannibal Neanderthal gang in northern Spain ate 12 of their neighbours raw, scientists say
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/cannibal-neanderthal-gang-in-northern-spain-ate-12-of-their-neighbours-raw-scientists-say-8960800.html

Cannibal Neanderthals in Spain ate their neighbours say scientists
http://descrier.co.uk/oddities/2013/11/cannibal-neanderthals-spain-ate-neighbours-say-scientists/