Recent findings from new cave fossils have shed light on the gruesome practices of a distant human ancestor, indicating that they engaged in cannibalism within their own communities, targeting both adults and children.
A team of researchers from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES) conducted excavations at the Gran Dolina cave within the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca in Burgos, northern Spain. During the dig, they unearthed two dozen bones and teeth, including fragments of skulls, spines, arms, legs, and three teeth belonging to the extinct human ancestor Homo Antecessor.
According to the institute’s statement, the collection of bones discovered in Spain suggests that a specific group of Antecessor individuals, who lived around 770,000 to 1.2 million years ago, practiced cannibalism as part of their cultural behavior.
The researchers noted distinct cut marks on several bone fragments, indicating that primitive stone tools were used to remove flesh from the remains. Previous discoveries at the site revealed similar marks on bones of young children, with the latest findings on adult remains suggesting that cannibalistic acts were carried out across different age groups within the community.
The assemblage of bones also hinted that the cave was inhabited by approximately 13 to 15 individuals, a higher number than previously assumed.
This new discovery has enabled researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the daily life and social dynamics of this ancient hominid species. By revisiting the cave’s Aurora layer, where initial fossils were found in the 1990s, they quickly identified these new remains.
Among the notable findings is the first ulna, a forearm bone, ever recovered at the site, along with fragments of a tibia, femur, and humerus.
Although many of the bones were fragmented, they will provide valuable insights for archaeologists studying the ancient community that resided there centuries ago. These new discoveries build upon previous findings dating back 850,000 years, with an initial neck bone fragment found in 2025 hinting at Antecessor’s cannibalistic practices.
The presence of signs indicating ancient humans butchered each other has been documented at the site for many years, researchers revealed last year on July 24.
Palmira Saladie, an archaeologist and lead coordinator at IPHES, stated that the recent findings suggested that children were treated similar to prey. The bones of a child aged between two and four years old, which had been decapitated, were found, leading the researcher to believe that the child was consumed post-mortem.
Numerous other bones, discovered alongside remains of nine other individuals, exhibited cut marks and fractures that experts believe were made to access marrow inside.
Following this year’s discovery, Ms. Saladie emphasized that the findings mark a pivotal moment in their research at the site, with cannibalism playing a significant role. She
