Posted on 07/07/2016 1:18:52 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The remains that were found were radiocarbon-dated to be about 40,500 to 45,500 years old, and it was determined that Neanderthals butchered and used the bones of their peers as tools, according to a press release from the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The team identified 99 "uncertain" bone fragments as belonging to Neanderthals, which would make this the greatest trove of Neanderthal remains ever found north of the Alps.
The findings also shed light on the genetics of this lost human species, adding to previously collected data on Neanderthal genes.
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While this is the first evidence of Neanderthal cannibalistic behavior in northern Europe, past researchers have found signs of ancient cannibalism at El Sidrón and Zafarraya in Spain as well as at the French sites Moula-Guercy and Les Pradelles.
The researchers say it appears the human remains were used in the same way as other animals. One thigh bone and three shinbones were used to help shape stone tools used by the Neanderthal community at the site, they said.
The researchers said that the findings open up new windows of understanding into how this ancient species actually lived and interacted.
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(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
It probably has to do with a previously unattested ingress of another human relative, such as “gracile” “anatomically modern” jokers who killed and ate their victims, then moved on.
/bingo
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