In the limestone caves of Atapuerca in northern Spain, archaeologists have uncovered evidence of prehistoric cannibalism. The earliest signs come from Homo antecessor, a human ancestor that lived nearly a million years ago and appears to have systematically butchered and consumed its own kind.
Later periods, including the Neolithic and Bronze Age, show more sporadic instances. Among the most haunting recent discoveries is the 850,000-year-old skeleton of a toddler found in the Gran Dolina cave, bearing cut marks and fractures that suggest the child was decapitated and eaten.
These ancient remains offer a disturbing glimpse into the raw survival instincts of our earliest ancestors. Click through this gallery to learn why these findings matter for archaeology and our understanding of human evolution.