Oldest Evidence Of Early Human Cannibalism Found In Spain

Among several skeletons showing defleshing cuts and intentional fractures consistent with butchery, the grisliest recent discovery at Gran Dolina cave was the 850,000-year-old remains of a toddler as young as two that had been decapitated and eaten.

Archaeologists in Spain recently discovered the remains of a toddler that was eaten by its archaic human relatives roughly 850,000 years ago.

These bones were found at the archaeological site inside Gran Dolina cave in Atapuerca, Spain. The child was likely between the ages of just two and five at the time of their death.

The toddler was decapitated and then cannibalized, based on markings found on their neck bones. This new discovery contributes to the body of evidence that there was a systemic pattern of cannibalistic behavior among this e