An testing of three skeleton fragments from two adults and one child suggests that Neanderthals may have wangle the remains of their deceased shortly after they break down . But the rationality for this remain unknown . Thefindingswere publish in theAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropologythis week .
Discovered in 1934 , a situation named Marillac near the Ligonne River by Charente , France , was used by Neanderthals about 57,600 eld ago . More than 20,000 animate being stiff have been discovered there—90 percent reindeer , and the rest were gymnastic horse , bison , and a few carnivore — along with flint tools made from non - local material . The site show no grounds of habitation or open fireplace , no traces of charcoal , and no bones that appear to have been burned . It was a hunt camp .
Now , an international trio led by María Dolores Garralda ofUniversidad Complutense de Madridexamined the irradiation of three long bone excavate at Marillac between 1968 and 1980 : a right limb bone ( spoke ) and a left leg bone ( fibula ) that belonged to two adults and part of the right thigh pearl ( femur ) of a nipper who expire at the age of 9 or 10 . On all three ivory , the team identified evidence of manipulation made perimortem , or right around the fourth dimension of dying . These includedspiral fractures(created by a rotating power ) andpercussion pits(marks affect on the ivory ’s surface , like with a pounding ) .
There are two large cut of meat stigma close together on the nipper ’s femoris ( pictured above ) , fracture create by a series of C to the right stage , and several other breaks that were made while the bone was still brisk . The team also identified some defleshing cut gull made with flint tools . The bone slam of the two adult show similar markings , and none of these appear to have been made by animal gnawing . “ Some Neanderthal radical cut and tore isolated kid or adult corps short after dying , ” Garralda explicate in anews release .
But as for why , the squad is n’t certain . " They might have been rituals — still in the 21st one C these proceed in sure parts of the world — or for food — gastronomic cannibalism or due to need,“Garralda ADHD . There were a lot of animal bones at the site , so cannibalism is not a foregone stopping point . " To appointment we have been able-bodied to prove these handling at several Neanderthal site in Europe … but we have not been able to prove the consumption of human kernel by Neanderthals . ”
