Burgos, Spain – According to a statement issued by Spanish National Research Center for Human Development (CENIEH)A micro-computed tomography examination of Qafzeh 25, a set of fossilized modern human remains found in Israel’s Qafzeh Cave, dated to 92,000 to 145,000 years ago, has identified lesions consistent with sharp-force trauma in the upper and lower jaws. The researchers, led by CENIEH’s Ana Pantoja Pérez, determined that the bone injury had begun to heal, indicating that the person had survived the trauma for some time. He suggests that the injury may have been caused by an accident but is more likely the result of violence. The study also identified previously unknown caries in the lower premolar and defects in tooth enamel. The researchers said the absence of carnivore damage to the remains, coupled with the lack of signs of exposure to the elements, suggests the body was buried intentionally. “These findings provide new evidence in the ongoing debate about the origins of complex behaviors such as interpersonal violence, care for injured or sick individuals, and funerary practices – fundamental aspects for understanding the social and cultural evolution of our species,” Pérez said. Read the original scholarly article about this research scientific report. To read more about evidence of prehistoric violence, visit “roots of violence“
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