Recent studies of Neanderthal bones unearthed in the Goyet Caves have uncovered unsettling evidence of exocannibalism—cannibalism directed at individuals from outside their own group. The remains of six individuals, including women, children, and a baby, show clear signs of having been butchered and eaten.
The findings suggest that these victims were not only outsiders but specifically chosen due to their physical vulnerability, such as being of short stature. This violent behavior likely coincided with the arrival of modern humans in Europe, shedding light on how Neanderthals may have reacted to the growing pressures of competition.
Exocannibalism: A Form of Inter-group Violence
Exocannibalism—consuming individuals from foreign groups—has long been a controversial subject in anthropological studies. It’s most often linked to extreme circumstances such as territorial disputes, competition for resources, or ritualistic practices.
According to researchers, the remains from the Goyet Caves provide the first significant evidence of such practices among Neanderthals in northern Europe. These discoveries are particularly important because they offer a glimpse into how Neanderthals interacted with other human groups, possibly influenced by the increased competition brought on by the arrival of Homo sapiens.
The remains, dated to between 41,000 and 45,000 years ago, represent the largest known assemblage of cannibalized Neanderthal bodies in the region, reports IFL Science.
Women and Children as Prime Victims
The victims discovered in the Goyet Caves were mostly female, including both adults and adolescents, with two children, one of whom was a baby. Their physical characteristics stand out—researchers found that they were particularly small in stature and showed signs of being less robust than other Neanderthals.
This suggests that the individuals were not just unfortunate casualties, but were specifically targeted. “The evidence suggests that weaker members of one or multiple groups from a single neighboring region were deliberately targeted,” the researchers wrote. They further noted that these individuals likely did not live in the region and may have been foreigners, possibly captured during skirmishes or raids.
The Impact of Homo sapiens’ Arrival on Neanderthal Societies
The timing of these events is crucial. The remains discovered in the Goyet Caves coincide with the period when Homo sapiens began to spread into western Europe. According to the researchers, the stress of increased competition from modern humans may have exacerbated inter-group violence among Neanderthals, contributing to episodes of extreme behaviors such as cannibalism.
Although it’s impossible to definitively link these actions to the arrival of Homo sapiens, the coincidence of these events suggests that the emergence of modern humans could have been a driving factor behind these violent acts. This finding could provide new insights into how Neanderthals may have perceived the growing threat from the expanding human population.