Horrifying evidence of ancient humans cannibalising children emerges as toddler's remains excavated
Published 10:55 29 Jul 2025 GMT+1
Archaeologists believe toddler remains from 850,000 provide confirmation of cannibalism among ancient humans
Emma Rosemurgey
Disturbing new evidence of cannibalism among early humans has emerged after archaeologists discovered the decapitated remains of a toddler in Spain.
A team from the Catalan Institute for Human Palaeoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES-CERCA), made the grim finding while excavating the Gran Dolina site in the Sierra de Atapuerca in Spain, which dates back some 850,000 years.
The vertebra bone is believed to belong to a child between the ages of two and four years old, and shows cut marks at specific anatomical points required to detach the head, leading the team to believe the decapitation had taken place intentionally.
"This case is particularly notable, not only due to the age of the child, but also due to the precision of the cut marks," said Dr Palmira Saladié, a researcher with IPHES-CERCA and co-director of the Gran Dolina excavation, as per Archaeology News.
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