Latest news with #FrancescMarginedas
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
These Ancient Warriors Ate the Brains of Their Enemies, Study Finds
A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports indicates that ancient warriors ate the brains of their enemies. The particularly gruesome form of celebration was a common occurrence for the Madelenians, who reportedly consumed the brains of their enemies after battle in order to celebrate the death of their foes. Though it's long been thought that pre-historic European cultures dabbled in cannibalism, the notion wasn't confirmed until recently (via Popular Mechanics) when a team of researchers extracted and analyzed skulls and other human remains from Poland's Maszycka Cave. According to the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution, more than 68 percent of the 63 bones analyzed contained manipulation 'related to human consumption, such as the removal of muscle bundles, brain, and marrow.' Cranial and mandibular fragments, in particular, 'exhibited modifications related to scalping, defleshing and disarticulation.''The location and frequency of cut marks and intentional fracturing on the skeleton is clear evidence of nutritional exploitation of the bodies, ruling out the hypothesis of funerary treatment without consumption,' explained Francesc Marginedas, head of the Catalan Institute and a researcher there. The study noted that 'the butchering process took place shortly after death with no period reserved for the bodies to decompose or dry.' The deceased were 'intensively manipulated' to extract all possible fluids and make best use of the cadaver's 'caloric contribution.' Researchers believe the cannibalistic practice may have begun due to scarce food resources after the Ice Age, but they say it may also have had a ritualistic purpose. 'Cannibalism is a behavior documented at various times in human evolution,' said the study's co-author, Palmira Saladie, a Catalan Institute researcher. 'In prehistoric contexts, it could respond both to survival needs and to ritual practices or even to dynamics of intergroup violence.'
CNN
12-02-2025
- Health
- CNN
Early Europeans may have eaten their enemies' brains, archaeologists say
Ancient humans living in Europe may have scooped out the brains of their dead enemies and eaten them, a new study suggests. In the study, published last week in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers examined the bones of at least 10 people from the Magdalenian culture who lived in Europe 11,000–17,000 years ago. Using imaging techniques, the team of researchers from institutes in France, Spain and Poland identified types of marks and cuts 'associated with the removal of the marrow in the long bones and the brain in the skulls.' Multiple other studies have shown that cannibalism was relatively common among Magdalenian people, both as a funerary rite and as a form of violence. But this specific instance 'was a case of warfare,' Francesc Marginedas, the co-lead author of the study, argues, because there was 'no kind of special treatment compared to other Magdalenian sites,' nor the presence of skull cups, 'which is related to the ritualization of the bodies.' Marginedas, an archaeologist at the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution in Spain, was part of a team studying the bones deposited in Maszycka Cave, near Kraków, Poland – a well-known prehistoric site that has been extensively studied for decades. During that time, different theories have emerged to explain why the ancient Magdalenians cut open the skulls of dead bodies. While a study in the 1990s concluded that these ancient humans consumed the brains of their enemies, later studies highlighted a lack of human tooth marks on the skulls, undermining the cannibalism hypothesis. For Marginedas, however, all the evidence 'makes us think that it's something more related to violence and conflict rather than a funeral ritual,' he told CNN on Tuesday. He and his team used electron microscopes to study the bones, identifying marks and cuts on 68% of them and demonstrating that they were made by humans rather than by natural processes. The bones belonged to at least 10 individuals – six adults and four juveniles – who may have been related to each other, Marginedas said, adding that further DNA analysis is needed to confirm that. Since they died so long ago, 'it's very difficult to say 100% that it's a case ofwarfare cannibalism,' he said. 'During the taphonomic analysis (study of the processes undergone by organic matter after death) of the surface of the whole bones to find any kind of marks that can tell us some story about what happened, we identified that … the bones from the arms and the legs, they were butchered and broken … to extract and consume the marrow.' Bill Schutt, a zoologist and author of 'Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History,' who was not involved in the study, told CNN that 'this is a very well-written paper' and 'a really good study.' He cautioned, however, against reaching definitive conclusions that this is an example of cannibalism. 'There are alternative answers to this question of what happened back then,' he said, explaining that we don't know enough about Magdalenian culture to say that they were cannibals. 'Who knows what these people were doing? Did they believe it was respectful to smash up the skulls of the dead or deflesh them?' said Schutt. 'There are cultures where bodies are defleshed as part of funerary rites.' CNN's Jack Guy contributed to this report.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Early Europeans may have eaten their enemies' brains, archaeologists say
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Ancient humans living in Europe may have scooped out the brains of their dead enemies and eaten them, a new study suggests. In the study, published last week in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers examined the bones of at least 10 people from the Magdalenian culture who lived in Europe 11,000–17,000 years ago. Using imaging techniques, the team of researchers from institutes in France, Spain and Poland identified types of marks and cuts 'associated with the removal of the marrow in the long bones and the brain in the skulls.' Multiple other studies have shown that cannibalism was relatively common among Magdalenian people, both as a funerary rite and as a form of violence. But this specific instance 'was a case of warfare,' Francesc Marginedas, the co-lead author of the study, argues, because there was 'no kind of special treatment compared to other Magdalenian sites,' nor the presence of skull cups, 'which is related to the ritualization of the bodies.' Marginedas, an archaeologist at the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution in Spain, was part of a team studying the bones deposited in Maszycka Cave, near Kraków, Poland – a well-known prehistoric site that has been extensively studied for decades. During that time, different theories have emerged to explain why the ancient Magdalenians cut open the skulls of dead bodies. While a study in the 1990s concluded that these ancient humans consumed the brains of their enemies, later studies highlighted a lack of human tooth marks on the skulls, undermining the cannibalism hypothesis. For Marginedas, however, all the evidence 'makes us think that it's something more related to violence and conflict rather than a funeral ritual,' he told CNN on Tuesday. He and his team used electron microscopes to study the bones, identifying marks and cuts on 68% of them and demonstrating that they were made by humans rather than by natural processes. The bones belonged to at least 10 individuals – six adults and four juveniles – who may have been related to each other, Marginedas said, adding that further DNA analysis is needed to confirm that. Since they died so long ago, 'it's very difficult to say 100% that it's a case ofwarfare cannibalism,' he said. 'During the taphonomic analysis (study of the processes undergone by organic matter after death) of the surface of the whole bones to find any kind of marks that can tell us some story about what happened, we identified that … the bones from the arms and the legs, they were butchered and broken … to extract and consume the marrow.' Bill Schutt, a zoologist and author of 'Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History,' who was not involved in the study, told CNN that 'this is a very well-written paper' and 'a really good study.' He cautioned, however, against reaching definitive conclusions that this is an example of cannibalism. 'There are alternative answers to this question of what happened back then,' he said, explaining that we don't know enough about Magdalenian culture to say that they were cannibals. 'Who knows what these people were doing? Did they believe it was respectful to smash up the skulls of the dead or deflesh them?' said Schutt. 'There are cultures where bodies are defleshed as part of funerary rites.' CNN's Jack Guy contributed to this report.
CNN
12-02-2025
- Health
- CNN
Early Europeans may have eaten their enemies' brains, archaeologists say
Ancient humans living in Europe may have scooped out the brains of their dead enemies and eaten them, a new study suggests. In the study, published last week in the journal Scientific Reports,researchers examined the bones of at least 10 people from the Magdalenian culture who lived in Europe 11,000–17,000 years ago. Using imaging techniques, the team of researchers from institutes in France, Spain and Poland identified types of marks and cuts 'associated with the removal of themarrow in the long bones and the brain in the skulls.' Multiple other studies have shown that cannibalism was relatively commonamong Magdalenian people, both as a funerary rite and as a form of violence. But this specific instance 'was a case of warfare,' FrancescMarginedas, the co-lead author of the study, argues, because there was 'no kind ofspecial treatment compared to other Magdalenian sites,' nor the presence ofskull cups, 'which is related to the ritualization of the bodies.' Marginedas, an archaeologist at the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecologyand Social Evolution in Spain, was part of a team studying the bones depositedin Maszycka Cave, near Kraków, Poland – a well-known prehistoric site thathas been extensively studied for decades. During that time, different theories have emerged to explain whythe ancient Magdalenians cut open the skulls of dead bodies. While a study in the 1990s concluded that these ancient humans consumed thebrains of their enemies, later studies highlighted a lack of human tooth markson the skulls, undermining the cannibalism hypothesis. For Marginedas, however, all the evidence 'makes us think that it's somethingmore related to violence and conflict rather than a funeral ritual,' he told CNNon Tuesday. He and his team used electron microscopes to study the bones, identifying marksand cuts on 68% of them and demonstrating that they were made by humansrather than by natural processes. The bones belonged to at least 10 individuals – six adults and fourjuveniles – who may have been related to each other, Marginedas said, adding thatfurther DNA analysis is needed to confirm that. Since they died so long ago, 'it's very difficult to say 100% that it's a case ofwarfare cannibalism,' he said. 'During the taphonomic analysis (study of the processes undergone by organic matter after death) of the surface of the whole bones to find anykind of marks that can tell us some story about what happened, we identifiedthat … the bones from the arms and the legs, they were butchered and broken… to extract and consume the marrow.' Bill Schutt, a zoologist and author of 'Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History,' who was not involved in the study, told CNN that 'this is a very well-written paper' and 'a really good study.' He cautioned, however, against reaching definitive conclusions that this is an example of cannibalism. 'There are alternative answers to this question of what happened back then,' he said, explaining that we don't know enough about Magdalenian culture to say that they were cannibals. 'Who knows what these people were doing? Did they believe it was respectful to smash up the skulls of the dead or deflesh them?' said Schutt. 'There are cultures where bodies are defleshed as part of funerary rites.' CNN's Jack Guy contributed to this report.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Say Ancient Humans Once Ate Each Other's Brains
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Archaeological evidence shows the Magdalenian people from 18,000 years ago likely were engaged in cannibalism. As part of the practice, experts believe whole-body manipulation focused on the consumption of the deceased, including brains. The newest clues come from the Maszycka Cave in Poland. There's no delicate way to put this: researchers believe cannibalism was an 'integral practice' for Magdalenian groups roughly 18,000 years ago. And that, apparently, included eating the brains of the deceased. In a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports, a team of researchers reviewed bones from the Maszycka Cave in Poland that have now revived the debate about the widespread practice of cannibalism in a group of European cultural systems, which was originally suggested by initial research from 1990s. Subsequent studies contested this idea, and the debate has been unresolved ever since. This new study reviewed early data, along with previously unpublished specimens, to find 'evidence of whole-body manipulation for consumption.' In a translated statement from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution, an international team of researchers said that analysis of 63 human bone fragments—including skulls and long bones from the extremities—using 3D microscopy techniques showed marks of human manipulation on 68 percent of the bones. These aren't just any marks, but cut marks and intentional fractures 'related to human consumption, such as the removal of muscle bundles, brain, and marrow.' This was the first time that the bones had been analyzed with modern techniques. 'The location and frequency of cut marks and intentional fracturing on the skeleton is clear evidence of nutritional exploitation of the bodies, ruling out the hypothesis of funerary treatment without consumption,' Francesc Marginedas, lead author and researcher at the Catalan Institute and the University Rovira i Virgili, said in a statement. Evidence shows the bodies were processed shortly after death and showed no decomposition. Skulls display marks of humans removing the scalp and gaining access to the 'nutrient-rich organ' of the brain. The long bones feature fractures that would allow for the extraction of important sources of fat and calories, like bone marrow. Both acts suggest systematic manipulation focused on prioritizing the most nutritious parts of the human body. That said, nutrition might not have been the only reason for the practice. 'Cannibalism is a behavior documented at various times in human evolution,' Palmira Saladie, co-author of the study and Catalan Institute researcher, said in a statement. 'In prehistoric contexts, it could respond both to survival needs and to ritual practices or even to dynamics of intergroup violence.' The authors wrote that an increase in population after the Last Glacial Maximum may have intensified competition for resources, which could have heightened confrontations between people groups. If this theory holds up, the researchers believe war cannibalism would have been in play. The human remains in the Maszycka Cave were mixed with the remains of consumed animals rather than placed separate in a sort of ritualized manner, further supporting acts of violent cannibalism. The study authors wrote that there are five known sites in Europe from this period with clear evidence of cannibalism, allowing researchers to conclude that cannibalism was a function of the regional culture at the time—whether that meant consuming their own dead or the dead of their enemies. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
