Consuming Passions: Reviewing the Evidence for Cannibalism within the Prehistoric Archaeological Record

by James Cole

 

Text

 

Tables

Table 1 for the Timescale of Evidence                    
                       

Site

Date of Site

Species of Hominin

MNI

Age Range of Individuals

Evidence of Cannibalism?

Type of Cannibalism:

   
           

Nut.

Rit.

Sur.

Psy.

Agg.

Med.

Gran Dolina (Aurora Stratum) 780, 000 BP H. antecessor 6 2 infants, 2 adolescents, 2 adults Yes Yes No No No No No
Middle Awash Valley – Bodo 500, 000 – 200, 000  BP H. heidelbergensis 1 indeterminate Inconclusive, w/ cutmarks ? ? ? ? ? ?
Middle Awash Valley - Herto 160, 000 - 154, 000 BP H. sapiens idaltu 3 1 infant, 2 adults Inconclusive, w/ cutmarks ? ? ? ? ? ?
Moula-Guercy 100, 000 BP H. neanderthalensis 6 2 infants, 2 adolescents, 2 adults Yes Yes No No No No No
Gough's Cave 11,500 - 13, 000 BP H. sapiens 5 1 infant, 2 adolescents, 2 adults Yes Yes Poss. No No No No
Fontebregoua 6, 000 - 7, 000 BP H. sapiens 6 2 infants, 3 adults, 1 indeterminate Yes Yes Poss. No No No No
                       
Key:                      
Nut. = Nutritional                      
Rit. = Ritual                      
Sur. = Survival                      
Psy. = Psychological                      
Agg. = Aggressive                      
Med. = Medicinal                      
                       
MNI = Minimum Number of Individuals                    
                       
Table 1: Data from                
Villa et al 1986; White 1986; Defleur et al 1999; Fernandez-Jalvo et al 1999; Stringer 2000;  Andrews and Fernandez-Jalvo 2003; Lemonick and Dorfman 2003.

Table 2: The aim of the action deduced from the type of mark, cutmark organisation and bone area affected from the site Atapuerca TD 6 Aurora Stratum

Butchering Large Fauna Medium Fauna Small Fauna Homo
Cranial        
Cranial Fragments     4 (1F, 4S) 4 (2F, 2D, 1S)
Mandible   1 (F)   1 (F)
Maxillae       2 (2F)
Postcranial        
Axial - Ribs 2 (1F, 1E) 9 (8F, 1D) 13 (11F, 2E) 4 (4F, 2E)
Axial - Vertebra   1 (D) 3 (2F, 1D) 2 (1F, 1D)
Axial - Clavicle       3 (2F, 1D)
Limbs - Humerus 2 (1F, 1P) 2 (2F)    
Limbs - Radius 1 (F)     1 (F, D)
Limbs - Ulna   1 (F) 1 (F)  
Limbs - Scapula   1 (F) 1 (F)  
Limbs - Coxal   1 (F)    
Limbs - Femur 3 (3F) 2 (1F, 1P) 1 (F) 1 (F, M)
Limbs - Tibia 3 (2F, 1M) 2 (1F, 1D) 2 (2F, 1P)  
Limbs - Long Bones 3 (2F, 1P) 11 (9F, 2P) 1 (F)  
Limbs - Flat Bones     3 (3F)  
Extremities - Phalanges 2 (2D)     3 (3D)
Extremities - Sesamoid   1 (D)    
Extremities - Phalanx   1 (F)    
Extremities - Metapoidals 6 (4F, 1P, 1M) 2 (2F)   2 (2D, 1P)
Key:        
S = skinning; F = filleting; D = dismembering; M = marrow extraction; E = evisceration;
P = periosteum removal        

Table 2: The first number corresponds to the total number of specimens, whilst the numbers in brackets correspond to the number of specimens with the hominin modifications. Data and Table after Fernandez-Jalvo et al 1999: 615.

Table 3: Showing the Modification of Deer and Neanderthal bones at Moula Guercy

Butchering Hominin Fauna (Deer)
Cranial    
Cranial Fragments 23 (15Cu, 23Fr) 1(1Fr)
Mandible 2 (2Cu, 2Fr) 5 (1Cu, 5Fr)
Postcranial    
Ribs 2 (2Cu) 8 (1Cu)
Vertebra 2 (0) 12 (1Cu)
Pelvis 3 (0) 0 (0)
Humerus 0 (0) 9 (4)
Radius 2 (1Cu)  
Ulna 2 (1Cu)  
Scapula 0 (0) 2 (0)
Radioulna   7 (2Cu)
Carpal 1 (0) 3 (0)
Tarsal 7 (1Cu) 5 (1Cu)
Metapoidal 3 (1Cu) 43 (9Cu, 43Fr)
Phalanx 9 (4Cu, 2Fr) 20 (1Cu, 13Fr)
Femur 5 (3Cu) 15 (7Cu)
Tibia/Fibula 4 (1Cu) 9 (2Cu)
Limb Bones 13 (6Cu, 13Fr) 40 (15Cu, 40Fr)
Clavicle 3 (3Cu)  
     
Inner conchoidal scars    
  7.4% 10.7%
     
Percussion pits    
  2.9% 2.0%
     
Adhering flakes    
  1.5% 1.0%
     
Anvil striae    
  1.5% 0.5%
Key:    
Cu = Cutmarks Fr = Fracture for marrow or brains
     

Table 3: Except where denoted as percentage values, the first number corresponds to the total number of specimens, whilst the numbers in brackets correspond to the number of specimens with the hominin modifications. Data and table after Defleur et al 1999: 130.

Table 4: To Show Bone Surface Modifications on Human and Faunal Remains at Gough’s Cave

Butchering Large Fauna (Equid and Cervid) Hominin
Cranial    
Hemi-mandibles 21 (5Cu, 13P, 1A, 4Pe) 6 (4Cu, 1Pe)
Hemi-maxillae 7 (4Cu, 4P, 1A, 1Pe) 2 (2Cu, 2P)
Skull 2 3 (2Cu, 2P, 2R, 2Pe)
Postcranial    
Ribs 5 (5Cu, 3P) 40 (20Cu, 8P, 8Pe)
Vertebra 12 (8Cu, 1P, 5T) 7 (3Cu, 1P, 2Pe)
Clavicle   3 (3Cu)
Humerus   6 (4Cu, 3P, 1Co, 1A, 1R)
Radius 1 (CU, P, R) 5 (1Cu, 3P, 1Pe)
Ulna 1 (Cu, P, R) 4 (2Cu, 1P, 1A, 2Pe)
Scapula   4 (4Cu, P1, Pe)
Tarsal 7 (2Cu)  
Metapoidal 30 (18Cu, 21P, 4Co, 2F) 5 (1P, 1Pe)
Phalange 53 (31Cu, 29P) 1
Femur   1 (P)
Tibia 7 (5Cu, 1P, 1Co, 1R) 1 (P, Pe)
Fibula   1 (Cu, A)
Pelvis 2 (2Cu)  
Calcaneus 8 (5Cu, 1P)  
Astragalus 15 (7Cu)  
     
Key:    
Cu = Cutmarks P = Percussion marks  
A = Adhered flake R = Removed flake  
F = Flakes removed T = Tooth marks  
Co = Conchoidal scars Pe = Peeling  

Table 4: The first number corresponds to the total number of specimens, whilst the numbers in brackets correspond to the number of specimens with the hominin modifications. Data from Andrews and Fernandez-Jalvo 2003, constructed by the author 2005

Table 5: Gough’s Cave Radiocarbon determinations for Upper Palaeolithic Human Bones and Humanly Modified Bone, Antler and Ivory

 

Hominin Modified Human Remains

Hominin Modified Animal Remains

 
Find Number Specimen Date = 14Cyr BP Specimen Date = 14Cyr BP  
           
(OxA-2234* Human adult calotte 11,480±90               1)      
(OxA-2236 Human adult mandible 11,700±100             1)      
OxA-2795* Human adult frontal 11,820±120             1      
Oxa-2797     Reindeer antler baton perce 11,870±110 1
(OxA-2235 Human child calvaria 11,990±90               1)      
OxA-1890     Mammoth ivory sagaie 12,170±130  2
OxA-2237 Human scapula 12,300±100             1      
OxA-1071     Cut red deer phalange 12,300±180 3
OxA-589**     Cut wild horse atlas 12,340±150 4
BM-2183R**     Cut wild horse atlas 12,350±160   5
OxA-590**     Cut wild horse atlas 12,370±150 4
OxA-465     Cut wild horse phalange 12,360±170 6
OxA-2796 Human adult calotte 12,380±110             1      
OxA-3452     Cut wild horse phalange 12,400±110 7
OxA-464     Cut wild horse metacarpal 12,470±160 6
OxA-3412     Cut red deer tibia 12,490±120 7
OxA-4107     Arctic hare tibia awl 12,550±130 7
OxA-3414     Cut rib 12,570±120 7
OxA-3411     Cut lynx femur 12,650±120 7
OxA-4106     Cut wild horse vertebra 12,670±120 7
OxA-466     Cut red deer metatarsal 12,800±170 6
OxA-3413     Cut wild horse vertebra 12,940±140 7
Table 5: Data and Key from Hedges et al 1991; Hedges et al 1990; Hedges et al 1987; Gowlett et al 1986;  
 Bowman et al 1990; Gillespie et al 1985; Hedges et al 1994.  
Key: *and ** indicate repeat dates on the same specimen.      
Determinations in parentheses are on specimens formerly at the Cheddar Man Museum and possibly treated with organic preservative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 6: To Show Bone Surface Modifications on Human and Faunal Remains

Butchering Faunal Human
     
Cranial    
     
Mandible 14 (11Cu, 8Sk, 8D) 9 (8Cu, 6Sk, 5D)
     
Cranial Fragments 13 (11Cu, 10Sk, 4D) 8 (8Cu, 6Sk, 2D)
     
Postcranial    
     
Limbs - Humerus 20 (8Cu, 8F, 2D) 12 (5Cu, 12,F)
     
Limbs - Femur 29 (12Cu, 8F, 7D) 13 (5Cu, 3F, 5D)
     
Limbs - Tibia and Fibula 13 (5Cu, 5F, 1D) 25 (8Cu, 7F, 1D)
     
Limbs - Scapula 9 (4Cu, 2F, 2D) 16 (8Cu, 3F, 8D)
     
Axial - Ribs 88 (52Cu, 29F, 32D) 38 (10Cu, 8F, 5D)
     
Key:    
Cu = Cutmarks Sk = Skinning  
F = Filleting D = Dismembering  
 Some bones may  have more than one type  of modification

Table 6: The first number corresponds to the total number of specimens, whilst the numbers in brackets correspond to the hominin modifications. Data from Villa et al 1986, and constructed by the author 2005.

* The whole number before the brackets indicates the number of whole specimens. For the Crania, the MNE was used to avoid problems related to fragmentation (Villa et al 1986). *Data converted from a percentage table in Villa et al 1986, so where necessary figures were rounded up or down to the nearest whole number. Data converted to ensure that the data presentation for this paper remained consistent.

© Autor 2006
© assemblage 2006

Top issue 9 contents assemblage home

assemblage - the Sheffield graduate journal of archaeology
Research School of Archaeology and Archaeological Sciences
University of Sheffield
2 Mappin Street
Sheffield S1 4DT
Tel: (0114) 222 5102 Fax: (0114) 272 7347