Spain’s caves reveal details of Neolithic cannibalism
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Archaeologists in southern Spain examined nearly 1,000 human bones and teeth from three caves near Granada, uncovering evidence of varied cannibalistic practices during the Neolithic period.
An international team led by Dr. Palmira Saladié of the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution investigated the remains to understand how and why people engaged in cannibalism thousands of years ago. The researchers used stereomicroscopy, bone analysis, and radiocarbon dating to identify patterns in how bodies were treated.
The study revealed that different communities across the Iberian Peninsula practiced cannibalism in distinct ways. At the Malalmuerzo cave, dating from the Early Neolithic (5300 to 4950 BC), scientists found evidence of a violent event involving at least 36 people of different ages, with over half of the bones showing signs of boiling and two skulls bearing blunt-force trauma.
In the Carigüela cave, spanning several Neolithic periods, nearly every bone analyzed showed evidence of butchering, and two skulls had been modified into drinking cups. At the Majolicas cave, from the Late Neolithic (3950 to 3760 BC), bones were painted with cinnabar, suggesting the cannibalism may have been part of rituals or burial practices. The team concluded that Neolithic cannibalism in the region was not uniform, but occurred in repeated episodes dependent on the specific circumstances.
