Tag

Evolutionary Relatives

All articles tagged with #evolutionary relatives

Ancient Human Relatives Engaged in Cannibalistic Behavior, Fossil Evidence Suggests
anthropology2 years ago

Ancient Human Relatives Engaged in Cannibalistic Behavior, Fossil Evidence Suggests

Researchers from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History have discovered the earliest evidence of probable cannibalism among human ancestors, dating back 1.45 million years ago. They found nine cut marks on a fossil shin bone belonging to a hominin species in northern Kenya, indicating butchery for meat consumption. The discovery redefines early tool use and highlights the potential for new discoveries in museum collections. While the evidence suggests cannibalism, it is not enough to determine if the eater and the eaten were from the same species.

Evidence of Cannibalism Among Early Human Ancestors 1.45 Million Years Ago
anthropology2 years ago

Evidence of Cannibalism Among Early Human Ancestors 1.45 Million Years Ago

Researchers have discovered the oldest evidence of humans' close evolutionary relatives butchering and likely eating one another. The study describes nine cut marks on a 1.45 million-year-old left shin bone from a relative of Homo sapiens found in northern Kenya. Analysis of 3D models of the fossil's surface revealed that the cut marks were dead ringers for the damage inflicted by stone tools. This is the oldest instance of this behavior known with a high degree of confidence and specificity.