The first European group to eat people

A Spanish archaeologist has confirmed that the fossil remains have been found in the limestone cave Atapuerca, Spain, showing the first Europeans to eat humans.

Undeniable marks

The first European fossil traces were found at Atapuerca limestone cave system, Spain, which raised the assumption of prehistoric Europeans capable of belonging to the cannibalism. Not only that, they like children and teens. " We know that we have cannibalism ," affirmed the AFP news agency, José Maria Bermudez de Castro, the National Museum of Nature at Mandrid and co-director of Atapuerca research group. Atapuerca is one of Europe's most famous limestone caves, recognized by UNESCO as a human cultural heritage in 2000.

The study of these found vestiges also shows that this cannibalism is intended to survive rather than a form of ritual . The first Europeans ate humans after killing them, the victims were mostly children and teenagers. " This is the first case of cannibalism recorded in human history, however, this is not yet confirmed as the oldest case . " Professor M. Bermudez de Castro adds.

José Maria Bermudez de Castro (left) and Euđal Carbonell, two directors of the Atapuerca team.(Photo: AFP)

The above traces are found in the Gran Dolina limestone cave. They are scattered, broken, and mixed with other animal bones such as horses, deer, rhinos, human predators. According to M. Bermudez de Castro, " The presence of mixed human and animal bones here has traces of knives and meat splitting shows the elements of bone accumulation after being eaten. This is for us to associate cannibalism as a need for survival, not as a ritual, because prehistoric people cannot yet have the capacity to be religious like humans today . "

Immigration of prehistoric people

The fossil remains found in 1994 in Gran Dolina show that they were the first Europeans with the name Homo antecessor . Homo antecessor, sooner than the Neandertal and Homo sapiens, resided in Europe some 800,000 years ago in the caves of Atapuerca after a long migration from Africa through the Near East, to northern Italy. , and then France.

This 13km ² Atapuerca limestone range is located in a separate area in the northern part of the Spanish and Portuguese peninsulas. This is the intersection of two rivers, a mild climate, ecologically diverse, with abundant water and food, can hunt boars, horses and deer.

One of the fossils found in Atapuerca.
(Photo: AFP)

"They kill opponents and eat meat, " explained Professor M.Bermudez after analyzing fossil remains of 11 victims. " We have also discovered traces that show that this cannibalism happens not only in a period but also over time. Another discovery that we have not explained very well is part "The majority of these 11 victims are children or teenagers. There may also be two adults, including one woman ."

The Atapuerca region allowed Homo antecessor to develop a distinct genotype, with both ancient and modern features. In addition to hunting, they also gather and build tools. The scene here features oak, chestnut, juniper, grassland, and is home to foxes, bears, lynx, leopards, hyenas.