Did our human ancestors eat each other? Carved-up bone offers clues

A fossilized leg bone bearing cut marks made by stone tools might be the earliest evidence that ancient humans butchered and ate each other’s flesh.

The 1.45-million-year-old hominin bone, described in Scientific Reports¹ on 26 June, features cuts similar to butchery marks found on fossilized animal bones from around the same time. The scrapes are located at an opportune spot for removing…