Archaeological excavations in Spain have uncovered what researchers believe represents Europe's oldest documented instance of cannibalism.
A vertebra belonging to an infant, discovered at the Gran Dolina site in Burgos, dates back 850,000 years.
The bone displays deliberate incisions that indicate the child underwent decapitation and butchering.
Scientists from the Catalan Institute of Human Palaeoecology and Social Evolution attribute these remains to Homo antecessor, an early human ancestor.
The UNESCO World Heritage location has yielded eleven sets of remains from this ancient species.
Researchers identified 10 additional bone fragments alongside the infant's vertebra during recent excavations at the site's TD-6 stratum.
Analysis of the vertebra revealed precise incisions at crucial anatomical locations used for separating the head from the body.
The young victim was estimated to be aged between two and five years at death.
Moment of discovery of a Homo antecessor tooth over 850,000 years old
|IPHES-CERCA
"This case is particularly striking, not only because of the child's age, but also due to the precision of the cut marks," stated Palmira Saladié, an archaeologist with IPHES.
"The vertebra presents clear incisions at key anatomical points for disarticulating the head. It is direct evidence that the child was processed like any other prey."
The remains exhibited defleshing marks and deliberate bone fractures.
These markings mirror those discovered on animal bones that the same ancient humans consumed for sustenance.
Detail of the cervical vertebra from a child aged between 2 and 5 years, with cut marks evidencing cannibalistic practices by other humans
|IPHES-CERCA
The Gran Dolina excavations have systematically revealed over 160 bone fragments from at least eleven individuals of this ancient human species.
These discoveries span a timeframe from 850,000 to 780,000 years ago within the cave's sedimentary layers.
Three decades have passed since researchers first identified evidence of human cannibalism at this location.
Dr Saladié, who specialises in prehistoric cannibalism, explained: "What we are documenting now is the continuity of that behaviour: the treatment of the dead was not exceptional, but repeated."
These findings demonstrate that Homo antecessor engaged in regular consumption of human flesh.
This species potentially gave rise to Homo heidelbergensis, who subsequently evolved into Neanderthals.
The evidence suggests these early humans treated their own kind as a food source while potentially asserting territorial dominance.
Fossilised hyena droppings discovered in the same cave section indicate that both carnivorous animals and humans occupied the location at different periods.
Scientists believe additional human remains await discovery in the site's unexplored layers.
"Every year we uncover new evidence that forces us to rethink how they lived, how they died, and how the dead were treated nearly a million years ago," Dr Saladié noted.
The Gran Dolina findings continue to reshape understanding of our ancestors' survival strategies and social behaviours.