Ancient Britons used skulls as cups
February 17th, 2011 - 10:44 pm ICT by Aishwarya BhattLondon, Feb 17 (THAINDIAN NEWS) British scientists say they have found human skulls that date back to the ice-age Britain.
The skulls – that of a child and two adults- have given scientists some perspective into the early life the ice-age Britons. The precise way that the skulls were shaped reveals that they may have been used as cups and bowls during the time.
There was another thing about the skulls that has somehow shocked the archaeologists that analyzed the skulls. The skulls showed signs of brutal attacks. Part of the flesh on the skulls and the marrows was also eaten suggesting cannibalism.
The scientists at the Natural History Museum at London tried to explain the practice. They predict that humans at that time were not savages because they ‘knew what they were doing’.
Professor Chris Stringer of the museum explained that, “Cannibalism would have been a good way of removing groups competing with you and getting food for yourself. There was also a feeling that if you ate your enemy you gained some of his power.”
The skulls were found in a cave in Britain in 1987. The scientists just completed fully analyzing the bones recently. The analysis of the skulls was published in Public Library of Science One.
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Tags: adults, ancient britons, archaeologists, bones, bowls, british scientists, brutal attacks, chris stringer, flesh, getting food, human skulls, london feb, marrows, natural history museum, perspective, professor chris, public library of science, savages, signs