Human cannibalism in the Early Pleistocene of Europe (Gran Dolina, Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain)

Ferna´ndez-Jalvo, Yolanda; Carlos Dı´ez, J.; Ca´ceres, Isabel; Rosell, Jordi

doi:10.1006/jhev.1999.0324

Cited by 210Pleistocene-Era Hominins and ArchaeologyForensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology StudiesArchaeological and Geological Studies

Human cannibalism in the Early Pleistocene of Europe (Gran Dolina, Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain)

Ferna´ndez-Jalvo, Yolanda, Carlos Dı´ez, J., Ca´ceres, Isabel, Rosell, Jordi·1999·Journal of Human Evolution

DOI 10.1006/jhev.1999.0324

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Abstract

Human remains belonging to at least six individuals were found in an exploratory excavation made at the site of Gran Dolina (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain). These remains were recovered from the Aurora Stratum of Unit TD6. This stratum has a thickness of approximately 30 cm. The area of the exploratory excavation is about 7 m(2). According to palaeomagnetic analyses, Unit TD6 shows reversed polarity, which is considered to belong to the Matuyama chron. This unit is immediately below TD7, where the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary has been detected, indicating an age of around 780,000 years BP. There is no specific distribution, treatment, or arrangement of the human remains, which were found randomly mixed with abundant faunal remains and stone tools. Most of the faunal and human fossil bones from the Aurora Stratum have human induced damage. Stone tool cutmarks are frequent, and peeling (a type of fracture similar to bending a fresh twig between the hands) provides a specific breakage pattern together with percussion marks and chopmarks. Both nonhuman and human remains show similar intensive exploitation. Slight differences, however, have been observed between fauna and humans (e.g., peeling frequent in humans, rare in fauna), that appear related to different musculature, weight, and bone structure. The characteristics of this fossil assemblage suggest that it is solely the result of consumptive activities as there is no evidence of ritual or other intention. The possibility of distinguishing between dietary vs. survival cannibalism is discussed here.

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Authors: Ferna´ndez-Jalvo, Y., Carlos Dı´ez, J., Ca´ceres, I., & Rosell, J.
Affiliations: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
ORCID: Rosell, Jordi
Venue: Journal of Human Evolution
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 1999-09
Volume: 37
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 591-622
ISSN: 0047-2484 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1006/jhev.1999.0324
OpenAlex: W2010341975
Semantic Scholar: 0626ef405b092517c35f1794af5710a1d77a1920
Cited by: 210
References: 56
Citations by year: 2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 10
FWCI: 36.88
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Human Evolution (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Anthropology › Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeological and Geological Studies
Keywords: Early Pleistocene, Gran Dolina, hominin skeletal remains, peeling, Matuyama-Brunhes boundary, faunal remains, Aurignacian, hominin diet
MeSH terms: Animals, Archaeology, Bone and Bones, Cannibalism, Diet, Fossils, Humans, Paleodontology, Spain, Tooth, Hominidae, History, Ancient

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Human cannibalism in the Early Pleistocene of Europe (Gran Dolina, Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain)

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