The thought of eating human brain is enough to make even the most adventurous eater feel queasy.
But a new study has revealed that ancient warriors did just that, after beating their enemies in battle 18,000 years ago.
Early Europeans known as the Magdalenians celebrated by removing the ears of their enemies, scooping out their brains, and eating them.
In a new study, researchers analysed cut marks on human remains from Maszycka Cave, about 12 miles (20km) from Krakow in Poland.
Unfortunate opponents ‘could have been attacked, subdued, and subsequently cannibalized’, according to the experts in Poland and Spain.
‘Bodies at Maszycka Cave were intensively manipulated to remove all tissues and make use of their caloric contribution,’ they say.
‘The butchering process took place shortly after death with no period reserved for the bodies to decompose or dry.’
And the grisly practice doesn’t end there – a 2023 study even found that Magdalenians ate their loved ones, simply to dispose of their bodies.
Early Europeans known as the Magdalenians celebrated by removing the ears of their enemies, scooping out their brains, and eating them. Pictured: cannibalized human remains from the Maszycka Cave – jaw and shoulder blade (scapula) that was processed and consumed
Pictured, entrance to Maszycka Cave, an archaeological site about 12 miles (20km) from Krakow. Maszycka Cave human remains are currently stored in the Archaeological Museum in Krakow
Your browser does not support iframes.
In the new study, published in Scientific Reports, the scientists report evidence of ‘whole-body manipulation for consumption’ at Maszycka Cave.
Lead study author Francesc Marginedas, a researcher at the Catalan Institute for Human Palaeoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES) in Spain, said the skeletal remains provide clear evidence of cannibalism.
‘The location and frequency of the cut marks and the intentional fracturing of the skeleton clearly show nutritional exploitation of the bodies, ruling out the hypothesis of funerary treatment without consumption,’ he said.
The researchers analysed a set of 63 human bone fragments, including skulls and long limb bones, taken from Maszycka Cave.
In all, 68 per cent showed evidence of ‘human manipulation’ including cut marks and intentional fractures from human consumption such as removal of muscle, the brain and the marrow.
Many of the marks on the human bones were found to be similar to those on animal bones – indicating the bodies were processed in a similar way for consumption.
Skulls show cut marks resulting from the removal of scalp and flesh, while fracturing on the skulls reveals access to the brain.
‘Cranial and mandibular fragments exhibited modifications related to scalping, defleshing and disarticulation,’ say the authors.
In the new study, published in Scientific Reports, the scientists report ‘evidence of whole-body manipulation for consumption’ at Maszycka Cave
Arrows indicate ‘human induced modifications on cranial and postcranial remains’ including cut marks (blue and yellow) due to scalping and defleshing of the skull
The three main authors of the study pictured with skeletal remains. From left to right: Francesc Marginedas, Palmira Saladié and Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo
‘Meanwhile, the skulls bore notches and percussion pits on different areas, generated during the removal of the brain.’
Long bones such as the femur and humerus also show percussion fractures to extract the marrow, an important source of fat and calories.
Overall, analysis indicates a ‘comprehensive consumption’ of the remains, prioritizing the most nutritious parts.
Researchers think documented behaviour could be related to ‘intergroup tensions and territorial conflicts’ during the Magdalenian period.
‘Cannibalism is a behaviour that has been documented at various times in human evolution,’ said co-author Dr Palmira Saladié at IPHES.
‘In prehistoric contexts, it could respond both to survival needs and to ritual practices or even to dynamics of intergroup violence.’
The Magdalenians were prehistoric humans that lived in Europe between 23,000 and 14,000 years ago, towards the end of the last Ice Age.
Just after ice sheets were at their greatest extent (the Last Glacial Maximum), foraging groups progressively, although not uniformly, expanded towards the territories of central Europe.
The Magdalenians were prehistoric humans that lived in Europe between 23,000 and 14,000 years ago, towards the end of the last Ice Age (artist’s depiction)
The Magdalenian era saw a flourishing of early art – from cave drawing and the decoration of tools to the engraving of stones. Pictured, a bison drawing at Cave of Altamira in Spain thought to be by the Magdalenians
They’re thought to have entered Britain from Belgium and the Netherlands around 15,000 year ago when the British isles were still connected to mainland Europe (prior to the catastrophic megaflood that separated them).
The authors suggest that the increase in population during the demographic expansion that occurred after the Last Glacial Maximum could have intensified the competition for resources – leading to conflict.
Cannibalism during the Magdalenian was part of the culture of these groups, whether consuming their own dead or those of their enemies.
Cannibalism cannot be understood as a common occurrence during the Magdalenian period, the authors add, although it was ‘not particularly extraordinary’ either.
‘Consumption of human flesh by people have been found seem to suggest that it was not particularly extraordinary, even if it was not a habitual part of their daily or domestic life.’
But it’s not the earliest evidence of human cannibalism – that goes back to northern Kenya around 1.45 million years ago.
Cuts on a shin bone fossil belonging to an early hominin species suggest signs of butchery for the leg’s meat.
