Cannibalism was quite common among the early man. The suggested reasons for cannibalism may be to survive starvation especially during the winter seasons or rituals performed by the early man when one of them died. This paper will shed light on prehistoric cannibalism and the disease, which can spread from one person to another because of cannibalism.
Evidence that cannibalism prevailed in early man exists in the modern literature. According to the article written by John Roach, modern man contains genetic markers, which are an indicator that early humans were cannibals. Scientist attributes their discovery of genes protecting against brain diseases to cannibalism. It was through natural selection that those who eat contaminated fresh survived (Roach, 2003). A disease such as Kuru in human is an example of brain diseases, known as prion diseases. Prion diseases were believed to be spread in two ways; by eating contaminated flesh or through genetic inheritance. An isolated group of people called Fore who lived in New Guinea, are said to feed on the dead during the mortuary feasts. Men ate the best meat such as muscles while the women and their children mostly ate the brain (Roach, 2003). Consequently, children and women were the most vulnerable to Kuru disease since they ate contaminated brain. They could develop symptoms like the laughing uncontrollably. The disease also killed 200 people. However, the study shows that those who survived Kuru disease had genetic resistance against Kuru epidemic. The main reason why cannibalism can directly be associated with the spread of Kure disease is that the disease started after Fore started their tradition of consuming the dead.
Scientists have proved that the early human practiced cannibalism. According to the Independent article, scientific study conducted in northern Spain implies that early human attacked their rivals who in most cases were from their immediate neighborhood (Withnall, 2013). They would kill and butcher them then extract the marrow and the brain by breaking their skulls and bones. The studies also suggest that they consumed raw meat, as there was no evidence of fire. With the use of modern technology such use of CSI forensic techniques, scientists can analyze the discovered bones to the conclusion that cannibalism was common in the early days. In addition, a study by Trujillo-Mederos et al. analyzed the Tlatelcomila human bones to determine the presence of cannibalism in ancient Mexico. The bones show some modification in texture, morphology, and color, and hence suggesting a certain cooking procedure, particularly for human fresh (Trujillo‐Mederos, 2015).
In France, researchers have found that man DNA contains a small percentage of Neanderthal genes proving that Neanderthals and human being must have interbred. Although Neanderthals are extinct, they were suspected to be cannibals (Nelson, 2015). The Neanderthals bone fossils discovered in Poitou, France had some marks, which after analyzing them show that the cuts were made shortly after they had died. The fact that the bone fossil lack traces of carnivorous teeth means that they were either separated intentionally either for ritual purposes or food.
Again, in England, chewed-on bone reveals cannibalism among the ancient Britons. The analysis conducted by Cooper-White, with the help of radiocarbon techniques shows that human remains found in the Gough's Cave have undergone some kind of human modification. Such modifications are indicators of cannibalism (Cooper-White, 2015). The researchers also found evidence for crushing of spongy bones, human chewing and cracking of bones to remove the marrow on the site. Moreover, a drinking vessel was found, and it was said that it was used to put human cranial bones thus suggesting that ancient cannibalism was performed as a ritual. Scientists have therefore succeeded in proving the existence of prehistoric cannibalism as they have found evidence different parts of the world.
As elucidated, it is evident that the roots of cannibalism can be traced from the early man. Research also indicated that the modern man has the genetic markers, and hence suggesting that the early man was a cannibal. Scientists indicate that the diseases such as Kuru in New Guinea are spread through eating contaminated flesh. The evidence of interbreeding between human and Neanderthals is illustrated by the presence of a small percentage of Neanderthal genes in human DNA in France. In addition, a study conducted in England indicates that there is an interaction between human and cannibalism. Therefore, this paper concludes that cannibalism exists in the modern man, and has its origin from the early man.
Bibliography
Cooper-White, M. 2015, April 21. Chewed-On Remains Reveal Cannibalism Among Ancient Brits. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/20/humans-cannibals-ancient-cadavers_n_7100432.html
Forbes Welcome. (n.d.). Retrieved May 2, 2016, from http://www.forbes.com/#/4c0770f3771e%20,
Nelson, S. C. 2015, March 15. Neanderthals Who Mutilated Corpse Of Child May Have Been Cannibals. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/04/15/neanderthals-mutilated-corpse-child-cannibals_n_7069996.html
Roach, J. 2003, April 10. Cannibalism Normal for Early Humans? Retrieved May 2, 2016, from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0410_030410_cannibal.html
Trujillo‐Mederos, A., Bosch, P., Pijoan, C. and Mansilla, J., 2015. Savoury Recipes and the Colour of the Tlatelcomila Human Bones. Archaeometry.
Withnall, A. 2013, November 24. Cannibal Neanderthal gang in northern Spain ate 12 of their neighbours raw, scientists say | Europe | News | The Independent. Retrieved May 2, 2016, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/cannibal-neanderthal-gang-in-northern-spain-ate-12-of-their-neighbours-raw-scientists-say-8960800.html
