Evidence of neolithic cannibalism among farming communities at El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain
Abstract In El Mirador cave in Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain, a unique collection of human remains provides insights into cannibalistic practices from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Six Early Bronze Age individuals (4600–4100 cal BP) showing signs of cannibalism were discovered in the early 2000s. La...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10266-w |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849234676633305088 |
|---|---|
| author | Palmira Saladié Francesc Marginedas Juan Ignacio Morales Josep María Vergès Ethel Allué Isabel Expósito Marina Lozano Patricia Martín Javier Iglesias-Bexiga Marta Fontanals Roser Marsal Raquel Hernando Aitor Burguet-Coca Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo |
| author_facet | Palmira Saladié Francesc Marginedas Juan Ignacio Morales Josep María Vergès Ethel Allué Isabel Expósito Marina Lozano Patricia Martín Javier Iglesias-Bexiga Marta Fontanals Roser Marsal Raquel Hernando Aitor Burguet-Coca Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo |
| author_sort | Palmira Saladié |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In El Mirador cave in Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain, a unique collection of human remains provides insights into cannibalistic practices from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Six Early Bronze Age individuals (4600–4100 cal BP) showing signs of cannibalism were discovered in the early 2000s. Later excavations uncovered older remains with similar cultural modifications. A Bayesian statistical analysis of the radiocarbon dates identified a single earlier event (5709–5573 cal BP) unrelated to the Bronze Age finds. 87Sr/86Sr analysis showed the cannibalised people were of local origin. The episode coincided with the end of the Neolithic occupation, suggesting this was a not common behaviour among the cave inhabitants. Given the age of the cannibalised individuals and environmental conditions, the data does not indicate a response to famine. This study complements and expands upon our understanding of European prehistoric cannibalism. The current findings suggest that cannibalism may be linked to intergroup violence during late prehistoric periods. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-33ba1b46153b41418e24149df47e9e43 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-33ba1b46153b41418e24149df47e9e432025-08-20T04:03:03ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-10266-wEvidence of neolithic cannibalism among farming communities at El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, SpainPalmira Saladié0Francesc Marginedas1Juan Ignacio Morales2Josep María Vergès3Ethel Allué4Isabel Expósito5Marina Lozano6Patricia Martín7Javier Iglesias-Bexiga8Marta Fontanals9Roser Marsal10Raquel Hernando11Aitor Burguet-Coca12Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo13Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES)Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES)Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES)Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES)Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES)Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES)Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES)Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES)Department of Biology, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM)Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES)Institute of Near Eastern Ancient Studies (IEPOA), Autonomous University of BarcelonaNational Center for Research on Human Evolution (CENIEH)Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES)Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES)Abstract In El Mirador cave in Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain, a unique collection of human remains provides insights into cannibalistic practices from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Six Early Bronze Age individuals (4600–4100 cal BP) showing signs of cannibalism were discovered in the early 2000s. Later excavations uncovered older remains with similar cultural modifications. A Bayesian statistical analysis of the radiocarbon dates identified a single earlier event (5709–5573 cal BP) unrelated to the Bronze Age finds. 87Sr/86Sr analysis showed the cannibalised people were of local origin. The episode coincided with the end of the Neolithic occupation, suggesting this was a not common behaviour among the cave inhabitants. Given the age of the cannibalised individuals and environmental conditions, the data does not indicate a response to famine. This study complements and expands upon our understanding of European prehistoric cannibalism. The current findings suggest that cannibalism may be linked to intergroup violence during late prehistoric periods.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10266-w |
| spellingShingle | Palmira Saladié Francesc Marginedas Juan Ignacio Morales Josep María Vergès Ethel Allué Isabel Expósito Marina Lozano Patricia Martín Javier Iglesias-Bexiga Marta Fontanals Roser Marsal Raquel Hernando Aitor Burguet-Coca Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo Evidence of neolithic cannibalism among farming communities at El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain Scientific Reports |
| title | Evidence of neolithic cannibalism among farming communities at El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain |
| title_full | Evidence of neolithic cannibalism among farming communities at El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain |
| title_fullStr | Evidence of neolithic cannibalism among farming communities at El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evidence of neolithic cannibalism among farming communities at El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain |
| title_short | Evidence of neolithic cannibalism among farming communities at El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain |
| title_sort | evidence of neolithic cannibalism among farming communities at el mirador cave sierra de atapuerca spain |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10266-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT palmirasaladie evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT francescmarginedas evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT juanignaciomorales evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT josepmariaverges evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT ethelallue evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT isabelexposito evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT marinalozano evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT patriciamartin evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT javieriglesiasbexiga evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT martafontanals evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT rosermarsal evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT raquelhernando evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT aitorburguetcoca evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain AT antoniorodriguezhidalgo evidenceofneolithiccannibalismamongfarmingcommunitiesatelmiradorcavesierradeatapuercaspain |