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Re: Cannibalism
Hardig (shardig@wsunix.wsu.edu)
Thu, 21 Sep 1995 00:36:00 GMT
On 15 Sep 1995, Gerold Firl wrote:
> In article <43a171$bn3@fountain.mindlink.net> mholley.deltacontrols.com (Mike Holley) writes:
> > Does any know of any theories or evidence suggesting that our
> >early ancestors practiced cannibalism.
>
> In _primitive mythology_, joseph campbell reports the conclusions of
> the early excavations of h. erectus and early h. sapiens sites which
> deduced cannibalistic practices from the way bones had been opened -
> particularly skulls and long bones.
>
> I vaguely recall reading speculation about some of the australopithecus
> finds which seemed to show evidence of skulls which were opened to
> extract the brains, and long bones broken for the marrow, but can't
> provide you with a reference; campbell might be worth a look though.
>
> I'm not sure how early you mean when you say "early ancestors".
> Cannibalism has been widely documented throughout the world; only among
> the aztecs does it appear to have had the potential of supplying a
> significant source of protein, as opposed to largely ritual
> significance, but this is fairly contemporary data. Three million years
> ago the hominid line had both a vegetarian branch (the robust
> australopithecines) and more hunting-oriented omnivores; the vegetarian
> branch died out, but I expect that their nutritional value was
> utilized. %^)
> --
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> Disclaimer claims dat de claims claimed in dis are de claims of meself,
> me, and me alone, so sue us god. I won't tell Bill & Dave if you won't.
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=---- Gerold Firl @ ..hplabs!hp-sdd!geroldf
>
>
In D. Lambert's "The Field Guide To Early Man" (pg. 151), He states that
Neandertals practiced cannibalism as a ritual.
S. Hardig
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