Shocking! This European tribe ate human brains 18,000 years ago
What's the story
A study published in Scientific Reports has revealed that European tribes, called the Magdalenians, practiced cranial cannibalism 18,000 years ago.
This gruesome tradition involved eating the brains of their defeated enemies as a form of celebration.
The practice was suspected in some regions of prehistoric Europe but had not been confirmed until recently.
A team of international researchers studied cut marks on human remains from Maszycka Cave in Poland to confirm this theory.
Discovery
Evidence of nutritional exploitation found in ancient bones
The research team analyzed 63 human bone fragments and discovered that over 68% of them showed signs of manipulation linked to cannibalism.
These included removal of the muscle bundles, brain, and marrow.
Francesc Marginedas from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution said, "The location and frequency of cut marks and intentional fracturing on the skeleton is clear evidence of nutritional exploitation of the bodies, ruling out the hypothesis of funerary treatment without consumption."
Skull analysis
Skulls show signs of cannibalistic practices
The researchers observed that the skulls and jawbones of these ancient humans showed signs of scalping, defleshing, and disarticulation.
Notches were also discovered on the skulls which seemed to have been made when the brain was scooped out.
The study indicates that during their cannibalistic rituals, these tribes prioritized the most nutritious parts of their vanquished enemies' bodies.
Dual purpose
Cannibalism: A survival strategy or ritual?
Palmira Saladie, co-author of the study, suggested cannibalism could have served both survival needs and ritualistic purposes.
She said, "In prehistoric contexts, it could respond both to survival needs and to ritual practices or even to dynamics of intergroup violence."
The researchers speculated that during the Ice Age, resources were scarce, leading to war-related cannibalism.
This theory was supported by the fact that these remains were found mixed with animal carcasses rather than being presented ceremonially.