Researchers at a cave in southern Spain have uncovered evidence suggesting that ancient humans buried at the site were unearthed, altered, and repurposed as tools by later generations.
Scientists from the University of Bern, Switzerland, led a team that investigated the remains discovered at the Cueva de los Marmoles near Granada, southern Spain. The analysis revealed that the remains belonged to a minimum of twelve individuals who were buried between 5,000 BC and 2,000 BC. Furthermore, the examination identified deliberate post-mortem alterations to the bones such as fractures and scrapes, potentially indicating attempts to extract marrow and other tissues. The findings were announced in a press release on Wednesday.
A human bone found inside the cave.
J.C. Vera RodrÃguez
In addition, one tibia - or shinbone - appeared to have been modified in order to be used as a tool.
"The tibia was initially fractured, and a portion of the resultant fragment was utilized for material scraping," stated Marco Milella, a research fellow in physical anthropology at the University of Bern, in an emailed statement on Thursday.
Furthermore, the researchers observed that the perimeter of a cranium, also known as a skull, had been scraped, possibly indicating its utilization for dietary or practical purposes.
The term "skull cups" is used to describe these remains, but that doesn't imply their use as containers, according to Milella. He pointed out that the cranium was intentionally altered, but due to a lack of written records, we must consider various possibilities for this action.
The team suggests that complex funerary behaviors were present in the area during prehistoric times. Milella stated that these findings align with previous evidence uncovered in other caves in the region.
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"The modification and manipulation of human remains have long been documented during this period, with similar examples found in the same region. In this regard, Marmoles Cave aligns with our existing knowledge of the burial practices of these cultures," he commented.
Researchers looking toward the massive speleothem of Cueva Ardales, with archaeological trench in the foreground.
Courtesy Pedro Cantalejo-Duarte
The study reveals that Neanderthals were engaged in cave painting activities in Europe even before the arrival of modern humans. Milella mentioned that he found the extensive utilization of the cave for burial purposes and the substantial presence of modified bones to be particularly fascinating. In summary, these findings suggest that the cave held great cultural significance for multiple generations.
The study suggests that modifying human remains became widespread in the southern Iberian peninsula around 4,000 BC. The reason for this practice remains unclear. However, the study also found similar treatments of human remains in other cave contexts in the same region, indicating that the cave was a significant social symbol for these communities. Milella, the researcher, explains that these cultures viewed the dead and their physical remains as a way to preserve and pass on social memory, as well as foster group unity.
It is possible that those who modified the remains knew the individuals they originally belonged to when they were alive, as the action was not carried out long after their death, according to Milella.
The findings were published Wednesday in the journal PLOS ONE.