Archaeologists discover strangely mutilated Neanderthal remains
An unusual find in France shows that Neanderthals manipulated the bodies of their deceased.
A new study published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology includes analysis of the bone manipulations, which were found in the remains of both children and adults, but the scientists don't have definitive answers to explain the markings. Cannibalism is one possibility, but the researchers also believe the bone manipulations may just be signs of ritual ceremonies.
The scientists looked at remains from three Neanderthals, found between 1967 and 1980 in the French region of Poitou-Charentes. The fragments include part of a right radius, a left fibula, and a child's right femur. The bone manipulations suggest that Neanderthals, cut, beat and fractured the deceased's bones. Scientists have also discovered similar bone manipulations at other Neanderthal sites in Europe.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While cannibalism may seem to be a likely explanation, the researchers note that the bones don't show carnivore's teeth marks, and the remains were found near a number of bones from animals, which may have been Neanderthal food. Whatever the reason for the manipulations, the researchers have concluded that the breaks occurred when the bones were still fresh, shortly after the Neanderthals' deaths.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
Why is Tesla stumbling?
In the Spotlight More competition, confusion about the future and a giant pay package for Elon Musk
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How Taylor Swift changed copyright negotiations in music
under the radar The success of Taylor's Version rerecordings has put new pressure on record labels
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Job scams are increasingly common. Here's what to look out for.
The Explainer You should never pay for an application or give out your personal info before being hired
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published