Cannibalism in Ancient Europe: A Widespread Funerary Practice

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have uncovered surprising evidence of cannibalism as a common funerary practice among the Magdalenian culture in Northern Europe approximately 15,000 years ago. Contrary to our previous understanding, this macabre ritual was not limited to isolated instances but was widespread.

The Magdalenian people, known for their rich artistic and technological achievements, have left behind a treasure trove of archaeological artifacts and well-preserved bones. However, their funerary practices remained shrouded in mystery. Clues from Gough’s Cave hinted at cannibalism, but it wasn’t clear if this was an anomaly.

To unravel the truth, paleoanthropologist Silvia Bello and archaeologist William Marsh from the Natural History Museum in London conducted an extensive analysis. They examined 59 sites, including both Magdalenian and Epigravettian cultures, from the Upper Paleolithic era.

Surprisingly, they found evidence of funerary practices in 25 of these sites. At 13 sites associated with the Magdalenians, human bones exhibited signs of postmortem manipulation, including cut and tooth marks, suggesting butchering, consumption, and the repurposing of bones as tools and vessels.

What’s particularly intriguing is that all instances of cannibalism were linked to the Magdalenian culture. Genetic analysis of the bones revealed that the Epigravettians, who buried their dead, were genetically distinct from the Magdalenians. This suggests that the Magdalenians were gradually replaced by the Epigravettians, indicating a significant turnover in both genetic ancestry and funerary practices during the terminal period of the Paleolithic.

Rather than being an example of cultural diffusion, this change in funerary behavior appears to be a result of demic diffusion, where one population replaces another. The Epigravettians brought with them their burial customs, ultimately supplanting the Magdalenian practice of cannibalism.

This revelatory study challenges our understanding of ancient cultures and their rituals, shedding light on a gruesome but widespread funerary practice that was once considered rare. Further research is needed to delve deeper into this intriguing aspect of our prehistoric past.