Table 3 Documented sites of Palaeolithic cannibalism.

From: Assessing the calorific significance of episodes of human cannibalism in the Palaeolithic

Site

Date (BP)

Hominin Type

Cannibalism interpretation

Hominin MNI

Age Range of Individuals (following5: Table 1 )

Associated faunal remains (excluding indeterminate remains)

Gran Dolina (TD6 - Aurora Stratum)5,6,13,77,78

c. 936,000 BP

H. antecessor

Nutritional cannibalism

11

2 adults, 3 adolescents, 6 children

Cervus, Sus, Equus, Bison, Megaloceros, Dama, Capreolus, Eucladoceros, Stephanorhinus, Mammuthus, Canis, Vulpes, Ursus, Crocuta, Lynx

Caune de l’Argo5,20

c. 680,000 BP

H. erectus(?)

Ritual cannibalism (?)

30

18 adults, 12 infants

Equus, Rangifer, Ovis, Bison, Ovibos, Cervus, Coelodonta

Moula-Guercy5,14

100,000 - 120,000 BP

H. neanderthalensis

Nutritional or starvation cannibalism

6

2 adults, 2 adolescents, 2 infants

Cervus, Capra, Artiodactyla (undefined), Perissodactyla (undefined), Carnivora (undefined)

El Sidrón5,15,79,80,81,82

48,400 ± 3200 BP

H. neanderthalensis

Nutritional or starvation cannibalism

13

7 adults, 3 adolescents, 2 juveniles, 1 infant

Faunal evidence scarce - comparison not possible

Padrelles5,17,18,83

c. 45,000 BP

H. neanderthalensis

Nutritional cannibalism

5

3 adults, 1 adolescent, 1 infant

Panthera, Canis, Vulpes/Alopex, Crocuta, Sus, Bovinae, Rangifer, Cervus, Equus, Lepus

Cueva del Boquete de Zafarraya5,16,84

c. 42,000 BP

H. neanderthalensis

Nutritional cannibalism

9

7 adults, 2 infants

Capra, Bos, Cervus, Sus, Equus, Rupicapra, Panthera, Lynx, Felis, Crocuta, Cuon, Vulpes, Ursus

Troisième caverne of Goyet11,85

40,500 - 45,500 cal BP

H. neanderthalensis

Nutritional cannibalism

5

4 adults/adolescents, 1 infant

Equus, Rangifer, Cervus, Capreolus, Megaloceros, Bos, Capra, Sus, Lepus, Mammuthus, Ursus, Vulpes, Crocuta, Meles

Maszycka Cave53

14,280 - 15,800 BP

H. sapiens

Warfare cannibalism

16

5 adults, 3 juveniles, 8 infants

Equus, Cervus, Saiga, Bos, Ursa, Lepus, Sus, Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium?)

Gough’s Cave5,9,10,19

14,700 cal BP

H. sapiens

Nutritional cannibalism with ritual treatment of the skulls

5

2 adults, 2 adolescents, 1 infant

Equus, Cervus, Bos, Sus, Lepus

  1. MNI = minimum number of individuals.
Back to article page