The culinary tradition of cannibalism

The Aurora stratum at Gran Dolina offers a sobering look at early human behavior. In this cavern, archaeologists discovered over 160 bone fragments from at least eleven hominids. These remains are between 850,000 and 780,000 years old, making them at least 250,000 years older than any other hominid fossils found in Western Europe.

Analysis of the bones reveals a consistent pattern. More than 30% of the fragments show manipulation marks suggesting they were butchered and consumed much like the animal remains found in the same layer. The evidence points toward a repetitive culinary tradition rather than a desperate act of starvation. Most of the individuals were young, including children under the age of ten, who may have been targeted to limit the growth of competing groups.

This site serves as a primary pillar of our understanding of the Paleolithic period. The excavations were first exposed by a railway cutting in the 20th century, and systematic work has continued since 1964. Researchers have identified various species within these sediments, including Homo heidelbergensis and the potentially ancestral Homo antecessor.

Further findings from the region are displayed at the Museum of Human Evolution in the city of Burgos. Visitors can also find information about prehistoric practices at the Experimental Archaeology Centre (CAREX) in the village of Atapuerca.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons