http://comunicacio.iphes.cat/eng/news/new/879.htm

A human cervical vertebra, dated to 850,000 years
ago, shows clear cut marks consistent with
intentional decapitation. The specimen, recently
recovered from the Gran Dolina site (Sierra de
Atapuerca), belonged to a child between two and
four years old. According to the IPHES-CERCA
research team leading the excavation, this is
direct evidence of infant cannibalism, associated
with systematic meat exploitation practices by
Homo antecessor.

“This case is particularly striking, not only
because of the child’s age, but also due to the
precision of the cut marks,” says Dr. Palmira
Saladié, IPHES-CERCA researcher and co-director
of the Gran Dolina excavation alongside Dr. Andreu
Ollé. “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 vertebra is part of a set of ten human remains
found this July at level TD6. All are attributed
to the species Homo antecessor. Some bones also
show defleshing marks and intentional fractures,
typical indicators of meat exploitation similar to
those found on animal bones consumed by these same
humans.
...

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