Are prehistoric people happy to be eaten by their fellow humans?

After unearthing more than 500 suspected remains of victims of the cannibalism in Herxheim (Germany), scientists have come to startling discoveries about the cannibalism in Europe during the Stone Age .

According to the scientists' hypothesis, the cannibalistic custom took place on a large scale about 7,000 years ago. And cannibalism becomes a ritual where the victims feel happy because they are eaten.

The prehistoric people 7000 years ago were cannibals

The researchers said the ritual will take place with a group of nearly 10 victims, tied hands and feet, and tied up their hair to open their necks. The victims have both men, women, children and pregnant women.

Normally, the victims will have to kneel in a row standing in front of a wide hole. Warriors with decorative tattoos will stand behind and use mace or stone ax to bring victims to the afterlife. Soon afterwards, the women in the tribe will manipulate the victim in the same way as the meat of animals.

Scientists made the discoveries after excavating more than 500 corpses in Herxheim, Germany. All of these corpses were skinned, fleshed, and broken to suck the marrow in the same way as animal meat. The skull is often cut off. The ribs were broken, maybe to break the heart .

500 corpses unearthed at Herxheim, southern Germany are testimony to the continued consumption of large-scale cannibalism.

Scientists have come to the hypothesis that these practices may be due to rampant hunger in the Stone Age, as it has been in history. During the siege of Leningrad, World War II, the victims of starvation ate birds, dogs and mice.

However, 7,000 years ago, Europe was in the optimal Holocene climate, stable and perfect to sustain human life so hunger cannot happen. Therefore, scientists think of another direction. It is possible to keep eating cannibals that have become a religious ritual that sacrifice for fellow humans is an honor.

Scientists have based the ritual studies of tribes written in the studies of Sir James Frazer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In it, Frazer mentioned many cases of ministries. Peanut cannibalize the sacrificing enemies while fighting, especially the brave and powerful enemies.

Basuto people in South Africa often eat the enemy's liver to increase courage, eat ears to be intelligent and eat testicles to gain strength. The rest is often burned, the ashes will be used in religious ceremonies.

The examiners that showed the remains in Herxheim were dissected like the way they did for animals

During the war between the British empire and the African tribes of the late 19th century, cannibalism also occurred. In 1824, commander of the British expeditionary army, General Charles McCarthy died while fighting the Ashanti tribe and tribal chief who ate his heart.

However, the Ashanti people ate General McCarthy's not for humiliating him, but for honoring his admirable courage. His bones were preserved for a long time in Ashanti temples with the greatest reverence like keeping bones in medieval churches. McCarthy's skull was wrapped in gold and used as a cup during ceremonies of many kings.

Another example is the Mayan football ritual that remains today in Honduras and Guatemala. The two teams kick together and the winning team will go to the altar and sacrifice.

For the ancient Mayan warriors, to die in sacrificial rituals is a great honor. Only the most powerful, supple warriors were sacrificed and went to the realm of eternal happiness under the Mayan religion.

7,000 years ago, Herxheim was in a stable climate so there could be no hunger

Comparing with customs all over the world, scientists came to the hypothesis that the victims of cannibalism 7,000 years ago in Herxheim were honored to be sacrificed. And the remains of Herxheim may have gone away with great reverence from tribal members.