Ancient Humans Manipulated Remains for Tools and Utensils

A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that caves in the Iberian Peninsula were used as burial sites and later manipulated for thousands of years. Researchers examined human remains from Cueva de los Marmoles in southern Spain and found evidence of intentional post-mortem modifications, including fractures and scrapes, possibly for extracting tissues. Some remains were modified for use as tools or for dietary purposes. These findings suggest a widespread practice of modifying and utilizing buried human remains for food and tools in the region, with potential symbolic significance.