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An Upper Palaeolithic engraved human bone associated with ritualistic cannibalism
Silvia M Bello1, Rosalind Wallduck1, Simon A Parfitt1,2
1Department of Earth Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|August 10, 2017
Summary
Magdalenian cannibalism at Gough's Cave involved engraving human bones, not just for food. This discovery reveals complex ritualistic funerary behaviors during the Palaeolithic period.
Area of Science:
- Archaeology
- Paleolithic Studies
- Bioarchaeology
Background:
- Cut-marked human bones are common at Magdalenian sites in Europe.
- Gough's Cave, UK, shows evidence of Magdalenian mortuary rituals including cannibalism and skull-cup production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze unusual zig-zagging incisions on a human radius from Gough's Cave.
- To determine if these marks were related to filleting or intentional engraving.
Main Methods:
- Macro- and micro-morphological analysis of bone marks.
- Comparison with filleting marks on human/non-human remains and engraved artifacts.
- Analysis of Middle Magdalenian engraved artifacts from France.
Main Results:
- The incisions on the human radius exhibit characteristics of intentional engraving, not butchery.
- The engraved motif aligns with Magdalenian design patterns.
- This engraving occurred on human bone within a cannibalistic context.
Conclusions:
- The engraving was an integral part of the cannibalistic practice at Gough's Cave.
- This suggests a previously unrecognized complex ritualistic funerary behavior in the Palaeolithic.
- The use of human bone for engraving is exceptional.
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