Archaeologists uncover terrifying evidence of cannibals roaming the Earth 5,700 years ago

Archaeologists have uncovered horrific evidence of human cannibalism dating back around 5,700 years in Burgos, Spain.

The remains of at least 11 people of varying ages, ranging from children to adults, were discovered in the El Mirador cave at the archaeological site of Atapuerca, in Spain, where the earliest known evidence of cannibalism was first discovered.

While these particular remains are significantly more recent, believed to be from around 5,600 years ago, the team of researchers, from the Catalan Institute for Human Palaeoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES), were alarmed at their discovery.

Not only did the bones show evidence of 'barbarianism', they also showed clear evidence of systematic cannibalism, meaning the remains had been skinned, defleshed, disarticulated, fractured, cooked and eaten.

The remains show evidence of systematic cannibalism (IPHES-CERCA)

They also showed a distinct lack of any kind of ritual or funerary event, leading the team to believe that this was the result of extreme violence between two differing groups.

"This was neither a funerary tradition nor a response to extreme famine," Francesc Marginedas reported, as per Archaeology News.

"The evidence points to a violent episode, given how quickly it all took place—possibly the result of conflict between neighbouring farming communities."

The remains, which had been incredibly well preserved, were found in two separate parts of the cave, complete with clear cut marks, marrow extraction, burning and human bite marks.

It appears to have been an entirely deliberate act of eliminating an entire family or community for consumption.

The remains showed human bite marks (IPHES-CERCA)

“Conflict and the development of strategies to manage and prevent it are part of human nature,” Rodríguez-Hidalgo explained.

“Ethnographic and archaeological records show that even in less stratified, small-scale societies, violent episodes can occur in which enemies were consumed as a form of ultimate elimination.”

Meanwhile, similar evidence of cannibalism dating back to the Bronze Age was previously found in the same cave, from around 4,600 to 4,100 years ago.

Elsewhere at the archaeological site, on the Gran Dolina site, researchers found the decapitated remains of a toddler with evidence of cannibalism from around 850,000 years ago.

The bones were remarkably well preserved (IPHES-CERCA)

The vertebra bone is believed to belong to a child between the ages of two and four years old, and shows cut marks at specific anatomical points required to detach the head, leading the team to believe the decapitation had taken place intentionally.

“The recurrence of these practices at different moments in recent prehistory makes El Mirador a key site for understanding prehistoric human cannibalism and its relationship to death, as well as possible ritual or cultural interpretations of the human body within the worldview of those communities,” Saladié concluded.