Table 3. Documented sites of Palaeolithic cannibalism.
| Site | Date (BP) | Hominin Type | Cannibalism interpretation | Hominin MNI | Age Range of Individuals (following5: Table 1) | Associated faunal remains (excluding indeterminate remains) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Dolina (TD6 - Aurora Stratum)5,6,13,77,78 | c. 936,000 BP | H. antecessor | Nutritional cannibalism | 11 | 2 adults, 3 adolescents, 6 children | Cervus, Sus, Equus, Bison, Megaloceros, Dama, Capreolus, Eucladoceros, Stephanorhinus, Mammuthus, Canis, Vulpes, Ursus, Crocuta, Lynx |
| Caune de l’Argo5,20 | c. 680,000 BP | H. erectus(?) | Ritual cannibalism (?) | 30 | 18 adults, 12 infants | Equus, Rangifer, Ovis, Bison, Ovibos, Cervus, Coelodonta |
| Moula-Guercy5,14 | 100,000 - 120,000 BP | H. neanderthalensis | Nutritional or starvation cannibalism | 6 | 2 adults, 2 adolescents, 2 infants | Cervus, Capra, Artiodactyla (undefined), Perissodactyla (undefined), Carnivora (undefined) |
| El Sidrón5,15,79,80,81,82 | 48,400 ± 3200 BP | H. neanderthalensis | Nutritional or starvation cannibalism | 13 | 7 adults, 3 adolescents, 2 juveniles, 1 infant | Faunal evidence scarce - comparison not possible |
| Padrelles5,17,18,83 | c. 45,000 BP | H. neanderthalensis | Nutritional cannibalism | 5 | 3 adults, 1 adolescent, 1 infant | Panthera, Canis, Vulpes/Alopex, Crocuta, Sus, Bovinae, Rangifer, Cervus, Equus, Lepus |
| Cueva del Boquete de Zafarraya5,16,84 | c. 42,000 BP | H. neanderthalensis | Nutritional cannibalism | 9 | 7 adults, 2 infants | Capra, Bos, Cervus, Sus, Equus, Rupicapra, Panthera, Lynx, Felis, Crocuta, Cuon, Vulpes, Ursus |
| Troisième caverne of Goyet11,85 | 40,500 - 45,500 cal BP | H. neanderthalensis | Nutritional cannibalism | 5 | 4 adults/adolescents, 1 infant | Equus, Rangifer, Cervus, Capreolus, Megaloceros, Bos, Capra, Sus, Lepus, Mammuthus, Ursus, Vulpes, Crocuta, Meles |
| Maszycka Cave53 | 14,280 - 15,800 BP | H. sapiens | Warfare cannibalism | 16 | 5 adults, 3 juveniles, 8 infants | Equus, Cervus, Saiga, Bos, Ursa, Lepus, Sus, Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium?) |
| Gough’s Cave5,9,10,19 | 14,700 cal BP | H. sapiens | Nutritional cannibalism with ritual treatment of the skulls | 5 | 2 adults, 2 adolescents, 1 infant | Equus, Cervus, Bos, Sus, Lepus |
MNI = minimum number of individuals.