AAt least 41,000 years ago, the grizzly bear scene may have played out in dark limestone caves located in what is now Belgium. Judging by the remains of more than six individuals that were discovered at an archaeological site called Trojasemska Cave, Neanderthals appear to have fed on members of their own species. According to recent reports, the victims included four teenage girls or adult women and a young man. paper published in Scientific reports. This adds to decades of evidence that Neanderthals sometimes craved the taste of their own kind.
Previous studies have shown that These particular remains from Troisiemes Cave showed signs of butchery. Together they form the largest collection of Neanderthal remains in northern Europe with “clear evidence of anthropogenic modification.” Scientists found cut marks on the bones, as reported in a 2016 report. paperand evidence that the remains were later used to make stone tools. Based on past evidence, these victims were most likely not local residents of the region. analysis geographical isotopes of sulfur in the bone collagen of these people.
Now new details have become known about this frightening case of Neanderthal cannibalism. Between 41,000 and 45,000 years ago, Neanderthals from this area of Belgium apparently hunted a group of more than six neighboring hominins. Although the victims were not closely related, isotope analysis suggests they shared similar diets and geographic origins. All but one individual, a male infant studied in this group, had Neanderthal traces.
Read more: “Portrait of a human in a young hominin»
Judging by these remains, hungry Neanderthals seemed to have a predilection for children and slender, short women, the newspaper notes. The authors suggest that they targeted “weaker members” of other social groups from the neighboring region – this could also serve to hinder the reproductive success of competing groups. Ultimately, this horrific act may have been the result of some kind of conflict between groups of Neanderthals.
But wise man perhaps there was some responsibility for this: they were filtering into Western Europe around this time. Representatives of our species, although not yet recorded near Troizemska Cave, may have provoked competition for resources and violence among local Neanderthal groups. And we all know how it ended for these long-gone hominids.
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