Archaeologists at a Spanish cave site have discovered human remains with evidence of cannibalism dating back approximately 5,700 years. The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, suggest that the cannibalism was linked to a violent episode between competing Late Neolithic herding communities.
The El Mirador Cave is located in the Burgos province of northern Spain and has yielded prior evidence of cannibalism, including remains of Early Bronze Age humans found with skull caps used for ceremonial consumption. Microscopic analysis of 5,056 human remains recovered from the cave revealed signs of butchering and consumption, such as slice marks, scrape marks, and chop marks.
Radiocarbon dating placed the time between 5,700 and 5,570 years ago, while isotope analysis suggested that the individuals were local and consumed over a short period. The researchers considered alternative explanations for the marks, including funerary rituals and injuries from ancient weapons. However, these hypotheses were deemed unlikely due to the limited scope of such practices.
The discovery sheds new light on a previously unexplained phenomenon in human history, highlighting the complexities and nuances of cannibalistic behavior.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/08/archaeologists-unearth-fresh-evidence-of-neolithic-cannibalism