Humans have violent instincts and there’s no doubt whatsoever in this direction. Recently, Northern Spain’s Sima de los Huesos has unveiled what seems to be humanity’s oldest murder mystery.
It appears that this particular setting is home to a massacre landscape, holding hominid remains from ancient times, now revealed for the first time. Archaeologists have found a complete Neanderthal skull that received a name most suitable for horror novels: Cranium 17.
Analysis of the skull, which first appeared on Wednesday in a publication called Plos One, suggests that this finding is most probably a strong piece of evidence in the case of prehistoric criminal tendencies.
We have it in our bones, as the fossil literally shows how humans have been violent since forever and change is something that doesn’t happen often, even if there’s history behind allowing for consistent behavioral changes, as a consequence to the damaging effects of violence. We were violent and criminal then and so we are now and the skull recently uncovered does nothing less but highlight our tumultuous behavioral history.
The skull has been lying in the ground for more than 430.000 years, with scientists now revealing what appears to be the very history of violence.
Cranium 17 reveals terrifying death proofs, with its owner suffering from severe blows above the left eye. The victim was strongly injured, as the skull revealed two distinct holes coming from separate impacts of the same object. The injuries were lethal, leaving the body lifeless, lying on the ground and remaining there, forgotten for thousands of years.
To gather all the pieces of the puzzle together, an extensive team of researchers needed to literally assemble the evidence. It was initially displaced in 52 pieces, deeply buried under layers of clay and uncovered after laying underground for centuries.
Seemingly, at least 28 early Neanderthal figures from Middle Pleistocene can be found on the site. Scientists are still trying to uncover the mysteries of the site and deconstruct what can easily be turned into a horror story.
There must be something fascinating that lies behind all this mysterious murder scene and with the help of new and advanced technology, maybe scientists can shed some light over the dark corners of mankind.
Image Source: finch-and-co.co.uk
