Neanderthal Cannibalism
One of the hardest things for any archaeologist to discover is evidence of cannibalism. Cannibalism has, of course, existed in various contexts throughout time, but recently, archaeology has made it clear that cannibalism also existed, with enough frequency to be apparent at multiple sites, among one of our ancient cousins, the Neanderthals. In some cases, the evidence is quite clear; however, in other cases, it is less decisive. Dating and location suggest that this must be the work of other Neanderthals; there was, in these situations, no possibility of contact with modern humans or Homo Sapiens.
It may first be helpful to define how archaeologists and anthropologists identify cannibalism. Obviously, there’s no way to know the true frequency of cannibalism among Neanderthals, but it is now certain that it happened. Cannibalism leaves distinct evidence in bone findings; these include cut marks created during the process of butchering, signs that the bones have been boiled, and bones broken and crushed in a way characteristic of marrow extraction. In some cases, bones have also been modified for use as tools of different sorts. These marks look, in fact, very much like those on the bones of animals used as food, and are not characteristic of burial or funerary practices.
The majority of evidence for Neanderthal cannibalism comes quite late in Neanderthal history, around 40,000 to 50,000 years ago. This includes sites in both Belgium and Spain. At this time, the Neanderthals had been pushed to the very edges of their range; this was quite nearly the end of the species. Given this, and the presence of evidence for funerary rites at other sites, it seems quite possible that this was a type of cannibalism commonly associated with survival needs. While this is not unheard of, even in the near-modern and modern world, it does not change the discomfort present with the idea of eating others of one’s own species, particularly children. At least one of these sites consisted of the skeletons of young adult males, and one child.