"Archaeological Study Reveals Ancient Humans Utilized Ancestors' Remains as Tools"

Researchers have discovered evidence that ancient humans in southern Spain dug up and modified the skeletal remains of their ancestors, using them as tools. The remains, found at the Cueva de los Marmoles, showed intentional post-mortem modifications, including fractures and scrapes for extracting marrow and other tissues. One shinbone was modified into a tool, while a skull had been scraped, possibly for dietary or practical use. These findings suggest complex funerary behaviors and a cultural focal point for generations in the region. The practice of modifying human remains became common around 4,000 BC in the southern Iberian peninsula, but the reasons behind it remain unclear.