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World Service,4 mins

Ancient evidence of cannibalism in human ancestor

Newsday

Available for over a year

Researchers have identified the oldest decisive evidence of humans practising cannibalism. The new study in Scientific Reports describes nine cut marks in a shin bone fossil of a relative of Homo Sapiens in northern Kenya, dating from some 1.45 million years ago. Analysis of the marks suggest it is the oldest instance of cannibalistic behaviour with a high degree of confidence and specificity. Newsday spoke to Dr Briana Pobiner is an paleo-anthropologist at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in the US and author of the study. (Image: The hominin tibia and magnified area showing cut marks; Credit: Jennifer Clark/Smithsonian)

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