GoKawiilThe Neolithic was an evolutionary and social turning point for humans—and these changes sometimes took a dark turn.
Archaeologists Thought Prehistoric Cannibalism Was Always the Same. The Bones Tell a Very Different Story
Why This Matters
A reexamination of Neolithic human remains suggests prehistoric cannibalism was not a single, uniform practice but varied in context and meaning. That matters because it challenges a long-standing default interpretation in archaeology and shows how better analysis of bone evidence can rewrite assumptions about early human societies.
Key Takeaways
- Researchers argue prehistoric cannibalism took multiple forms rather than one standard practice.
- The Neolithic was a period of major social and evolutionary change, including violent episodes.
- Close study of skeletal evidence can overturn broad, long-held archaeological interpretations.
Worth a Look
Smithsonian Human Origins Book — If bone-deep stories about Neolithic life fascinate you, a well-illustrated human origins book is the natural next step. It puts finds like these burial sites into the bigger arc of how our species evolved socially and biologically, with photos and diagrams that make the archaeology easy to follow.
See Smithsonian Human Origins Book on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Get alerts for these topics