Scientists have discovered what might possibly be the oldest evidence of cannibalism in the history of human civilisation.&nbsp;

A fossilised leg bone which has cut marks that appear to have been made by stone tools might be the oldest evidence that proves ancient humans butchered each other and ate their flesh, reported Independent.

In the study which was published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers observed that nine cut marks are present on a 1.45 million-year-old left shin bone which belongs to modern human ancestors and was discovered in northern Kenya.

"This could be the oldest instance of cannibalism in a human relative species known with a high degree of confidence and specificity," they stated.

Smithsonian Institution palaeoanthropologist Briana Pobiner was combing through fossils present at a museum in Nairobi, Kenya and finding clues related to prehistoric predators that ate ancient relatives of humans.

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<h2>Marks of butchery&nbsp;</h2>

Dr Pobiner observed what "looked to her like marks of butchery" and then the samples were compared with controlled experiments.

It was observed that two bite marks were of a big cat, however, the other nine marks appeared similar to butchery marks present on animal fossils that seemed to have been hunted and eaten by humans and their ancestors.

She stated that the cuts resembled those which are said to be made by stone tools.

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(Image: Cut marks on fossilised bone. Source: Nature.com)

"The cuts are located on the shin where a calf muscle would have attached to the bone — a good place to cut if the goal is to remove a chunk of flesh. These cut marks look very similar to what I've seen on animal fossils that were being processed for consumption. It seems most likely that the meat from this leg was eaten and that it was eaten for nutrition as opposed to for a ritual," Dr Pobiner stated.

<h2>Not enough evidence to prove cannibalism&nbsp;</h2>

Although only the cut marks won't be able to prove that human ancestors ate each other, however, Dr Pobiner stated that this was the most likely scenario. She stated that the discovery was ''shocking, honestly, and very surprising, but very exciting''.

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The scientists, however, argue that not enough evidence is present to conclusively infer that it is a sign of cannibalism since it would need the &nbsp;eater and the eaten to hail from the same species

Zeresenay Alemseged, who is a palaeoanthropologist at the University of Chicago, Illinois, stated, ''The evidence is so sporadic at this point, all we're doing is connecting the dots. We are trying to go inside the brains of the early hominids, which means it's going to be very complex.''

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Scientists have discovered what might possibly be the oldest evidence of cannibalism in the history of human civilisation. A fossilised leg bone which has cut marks that appear to have been made by stone tools might be the oldest evidence that proves ancient humans butchered each other and ate their flesh, reported Independent.

Scientists have discovered what might possibly be the oldest evidence of cannibalism in the history of human civilisation. A fossilised leg bone which has cut marks that appear to have been made by stone tools might be the oldest evidence that proves ancient humans butchered each other and ate their flesh, reported Independent. In the study which was published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers observed that nine cut marks are present on a 1.45 million-year-old left shin bone which belongs to modern human ancestors and was discovered in northern Kenya. "This could be the oldest instance of cannibalism in a human relative species known with a high degree of confidence and specificity," they stated. Smithsonian Institution palaeoanthropologist Briana Pobiner was combing through fossils present at a museum in Nairobi, Kenya and finding clues related to prehistoric predators that ate ancient relatives of humans. ALSO READ | A pizza history | Archaeologists discover painting of pizza's 'ancestor' in ruins of Pompeii Marks of butchery Dr Pobiner observed what "looked to her like marks of butchery" and then the samples were compared with controlled experiments. It was observed that two bite marks were of a big cat, however, the other nine marks appeared similar to butchery marks present on animal fossils that seemed to have been hunted and eaten by humans and their ancestors. She stated that the cuts resembled those which are said to be made by stone tools. (Image: Cut marks on fossilised bone. Source: Nature.com) "The cuts are located on the shin where a calf muscle would have attached to the bone — a good place to cut if the goal is to remove a chunk of flesh. These cut marks look very similar to what I've seen on animal fossils that were being processed for consumption. It seems most likely that the meat from this leg was eaten and that it was eaten for nutrition as opposed to for a ritual," Dr Pobiner stated. Not enough evidence to prove cannibalism Although only the cut marks won't be able to prove that human ancestors ate each other, however, Dr Pobiner stated that this was the most likely scenario. She stated that the discovery was ''shocking, honestly, and very surprising, but very exciting''. WATCH | Gravitas: The history of America's pride movement The scientists, however, argue that not enough evidence is present to conclusively infer that it is a sign of cannibalism since it would need the eater and the eaten to hail from the same species Zeresenay Alemseged, who is a palaeoanthropologist at the University of Chicago, Illinois, stated, ''The evidence is so sporadic at this point, all we're doing is connecting the dots. We are trying to go inside the brains of the early hominids, which means it's going to be very complex.'' You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

A cannibal history ? Fossils suggest human ancestors butchered and ate each other

Seven million years back our ancestors could walk upright. Did that surprise you? We tend to picture the early man as this hunched-up creature, but new evidence suggests that that's not how they were.

A fossil leg bone that was found in Chad more than 20 years ago demonstrated that a creature known as Sahelanthropus tchadensis was an early human ancestor that walked on two feet.&nbsp;

The researchers looked at 23 characteristics of the fossils, which they claim link the ancestor to bipedalism or upright walking and show a closer affinity to humans than apes.

The discovery was reported in the Nature journal.

S.tchadensis was found by a French and Chadian team in the Toros-Menalla region of the Djurab desert, Lake Chad basin in July 2001.

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An almost intact, but severely damaged skull was the main discovery; it was nicknamed Toumaï which in the Chadian Daza language means "hope of life".&nbsp;

However, the current discovery was not made by the hope of life skull rather it is based on the examination of a thigh bone and two forearm bones.&nbsp;

“We can conclude from the evidence that we have habitual bipedalism, plus quadrupedal arborealism, which is what is observed for early hominids and then gradually turns into the obligate bipedalism in Homo,” said a co-author of the study, Jean-Renaud Boisserie,&nbsp;from the University of Poitiers.

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Other experts, though, have raised scepticism about the study.&nbsp;Prof. Bernard Wood of George Washington University, who was the co-author of a prior study that found Sahelanthropus was not typically bipedal, called the paper "shoddy".

Guardian quotes him as saying "These critically important fossils deserve better treatment than this shoddy paper provides. The study cherrypicks evidence, ignores recent studies that point to different conclusions than the ones the authors try to defend, and it fails to explore other equally, if not more likely, functional interpretations of these fossils.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Seven million years back our ancestors could walk upright. Did that surprise you? We tend to picture the early man as this hunched-up creature, but new evidence suggests that that's not how they were.

Seven million years back our ancestors could walk upright. Did that surprise you? We tend to picture the early man as this hunched-up creature, but new evidence suggests that that's not how they were. A fossil leg bone that was found in Chad more than 20 years ago demonstrated that a creature known as Sahelanthropus tchadensis was an early human ancestor that walked on two feet. The researchers looked at 23 characteristics of the fossils, which they claim link the ancestor to bipedalism or upright walking and show a closer affinity to humans than apes. The discovery was reported in the Nature journal. S.tchadensis was found by a French and Chadian team in the Toros-Menalla region of the Djurab desert, Lake Chad basin in July 2001. Also read | Just not the face, some doppelgängers might have same DNA also: Study An almost intact, but severely damaged skull was the main discovery; it was nicknamed Toumaï which in the Chadian Daza language means "hope of life". However, the current discovery was not made by the hope of life skull rather it is based on the examination of a thigh bone and two forearm bones. “We can conclude from the evidence that we have habitual bipedalism, plus quadrupedal arborealism, which is what is observed for early hominids and then gradually turns into the obligate bipedalism in Homo,” said a co-author of the study, Jean-Renaud Boisserie, from the University of Poitiers. Also read | Researchers create floating artificial leaves that generate clean fuel from sunlight, water and CO2 Other experts, though, have raised scepticism about the study. Prof. Bernard Wood of George Washington University, who was the co-author of a prior study that found Sahelanthropus was not typically bipedal, called the paper "shoddy". Guardian quotes him as saying "These critically important fossils deserve better treatment than this shoddy paper provides. The study cherrypicks evidence, ignores recent studies that point to different conclusions than the ones the authors try to defend, and it fails to explore other equally, if not more likely, functional interpretations of these fossils. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Seven million year old human bone leads to an amazing discovery

Do you remember the Hobbits from the insanely popular book and movie series Lord of the Rings? Looked like us humans, but shorter.

What if we were to tell you that humans actually had an ancestor that is pretty similar to J.R.R Tolkien's character? These ancient humans are still alive, according to claims.

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Yes, you read that right. As per claims presented by Gregory Forth, a retired anthropologist in his new book 'Between Ape and Human', the species called Homo Floresiensis is still alive and well. It lives on the Indonesian island of Flores, surviving the modern era.

Homo Floresiensis is a Lilliputian early human species that are&nbsp;believed to have existed approximately 60,00 to 700,000 years ago.

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The species had been nicknamed 'hobbit' because of its small height; it is believed to have stood at under 4 feet, an approximate guess is 3 feet, 6 inches or 106 centimetres tall.

They were toolmakers and as of now, not much is known about their evolutionary history.

<img alt="Human ancestor" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="09a6c362-b9eb-4a1d-8489-5d8d32891fd1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/stories%20%284%29_2.jpg" />

In the modern-day, there have been claims of sightings of Hobbit-like people in Flores and Forth argues that it could very well be our ancestors.

Speaking to Live Science, he said that we simply don't know when this species became extinct or "dare I say -- we don't even know if it is extinct".

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However, experts are sceptical about this claim. Some say that for a species to evade detection on an island of close to two million people is nearly impossible.

Whether Homo Floresiensis actually exists today or not remains to be seen. It could just be another enigma like the sasquatch or bigfoot, but stories about odd, seemingly alien creatures have always piqued people's interest, and this is no exception.

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(With inputs from agencies)

Do you remember the Hobbits from the insanely popular book and movie series Lord of the Rings? Looked like us humans, but shorter. What if we were to tell you that humans actually had an ancestor that is pretty similar to J.

Do you remember the Hobbits from the insanely popular book and movie series Lord of the Rings? Looked like us humans, but shorter. What if we were to tell you that humans actually had an ancestor that is pretty similar to J.R.R Tolkien's character? These ancient humans are still alive, according to claims. Also read | Two years after devastating Notre Dame fire, 'preventative' archaeological dig uncovers cultural treasures Yes, you read that right. As per claims presented by Gregory Forth, a retired anthropologist in his new book 'Between Ape and Human', the species called Homo Floresiensis is still alive and well. It lives on the Indonesian island of Flores, surviving the modern era. Homo Floresiensis is a Lilliputian early human species that are believed to have existed approximately 60,00 to 700,000 years ago. Watch | South Africa's first legal cannabis pharmacy: Govt backs cannabis for medicinal use The species had been nicknamed 'hobbit' because of its small height; it is believed to have stood at under 4 feet, an approximate guess is 3 feet, 6 inches or 106 centimetres tall. They were toolmakers and as of now, not much is known about their evolutionary history. In the modern-day, there have been claims of sightings of Hobbit-like people in Flores and Forth argues that it could very well be our ancestors. Speaking to Live Science, he said that we simply don't know when this species became extinct or "dare I say -- we don't even know if it is extinct". Also read | Most complete skeleton of Deinonychus, species that inspired Jurassic Park’s velociraptor, to go on sale However, experts are sceptical about this claim. Some say that for a species to evade detection on an island of close to two million people is nearly impossible. Whether Homo Floresiensis actually exists today or not remains to be seen. It could just be another enigma like the sasquatch or bigfoot, but stories about odd, seemingly alien creatures have always piqued people's interest, and this is no exception. Watch WION LIVE HERE: (With inputs from agencies)

Claims of an ancient human in the modern era shake the scientific community. Here's what you need to know

Scientists have discovered a species of human ancestors called 'homo bodoensis' that lived around half a million years ago.

The study was conducted by an international team of researchers from the University of Winnipeg and the University of Belgrade. It has been published in the journal Nature.

According to lead author Dr. Mirjana Roksandic, ''Talking about human evolution during this time period became impossible due to the lack of proper terminology that acknowledges human geographic variation.''

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/neanderthals-population-might-have-declined-due-to-sex-with-humans-study-403707">Also read |&nbsp;Neanderthal's population might have declined due to sex with humans: Study</a>

Homo bodoensis lived in Africa during the Middle Pleistocene which is now known as Chibanian.&nbsp;

The term 'bodoensis' has been derived from a skull found in Bodo D'ar, Ethiopia.

The age saw the rise of our own species, Homo sapiens as well as our closest relatives Neanderthals in Europe.

''Terms need to be clear in science, to facilitate communication. They should not be treated as absolute when they contradict the fossil record,'' said co-author Predrag Radovic.

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''Naming a new species is a big deal, as the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature allows name changes only under very strictly defined rules,'' said Roksandic.

''We are confident that this one will stick around for a long time, a new taxon name will live only if other researchers use it.''&nbsp;

A previous study had confirmed that Neanderthals, long perceived to have been unsophisticated and brutish, really did paint stalagmites in a Spanish cave more than 60,000 years ago.

The cave formations "played a fundamental role in the symbolic systems of some Neanderthal communities," though what those symbols meant remains a mystery for now.

Scientists have discovered a species of human ancestors called 'homo bodoensis' that lived around half a million years ago. The study was conducted by an international team of researchers from the University of Winnipeg and the University of Belgrade.

Scientists have discovered a species of human ancestors called 'homo bodoensis' that lived around half a million years ago. The study was conducted by an international team of researchers from the University of Winnipeg and the University of Belgrade. It has been published in the journal Nature. According to lead author Dr. Mirjana Roksandic, ''Talking about human evolution during this time period became impossible due to the lack of proper terminology that acknowledges human geographic variation.'' Also read | Neanderthal's population might have declined due to sex with humans: Study Homo bodoensis lived in Africa during the Middle Pleistocene which is now known as Chibanian. The term 'bodoensis' has been derived from a skull found in Bodo D'ar, Ethiopia. The age saw the rise of our own species, Homo sapiens as well as our closest relatives Neanderthals in Europe. ''Terms need to be clear in science, to facilitate communication. They should not be treated as absolute when they contradict the fossil record,'' said co-author Predrag Radovic. Also read | Ancient DNA from a teen girl reveals previously unknown group of humans ''Naming a new species is a big deal, as the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature allows name changes only under very strictly defined rules,'' said Roksandic. ''We are confident that this one will stick around for a long time, a new taxon name will live only if other researchers use it.'' A previous study had confirmed that Neanderthals, long perceived to have been unsophisticated and brutish, really did paint stalagmites in a Spanish cave more than 60,000 years ago. The cave formations "played a fundamental role in the symbolic systems of some Neanderthal communities," though what those symbols meant remains a mystery for now.

Homo bodoensis: It's official, we have a new ancestor

A group of scientists have discovered that a rare blood disorder could have had a severely negative impact on the offsprings of Neanderthals, as a result of sexual relations between human beings and Neanderthals.

According to a study published in PLOS One journal, the blood samples of Neanderthals show that their blood carried a specific set of genetic variants, which was susceptible to haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn (HDFN). Researchers believe that this HDFN can cause anaemia and usually worsens with second, third and following pregnancies.

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This, they believe, could have led to a decrease in the number of Neanderthal children.

"Analyses of blood group systems of Neanderthals and Denisovans contributed to a better understanding of their origin, expansion and encounters with&nbsp;Homo sapiens," the report read.

Although this could have also happened as a result of sexual relationships solely between Neanderthals, the risk of HDFN is reported to be higher in cases of sexual relationships between human ancestors and Neanderthals.

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"These elements could have contributed to weakening the descendants to the point of leading to their demise, especially combined with the competition with Homo sapiens for the same ecological niche," the report claims.

While the disorder is considered to be extremely rare in human species now, it is considered to be common in Neanderthals as the species’ gene pool is very limited.

"The fact that these forms of genes were detected in individuals separated by 4,000km and 50,000 years suggest that this genetic peculiarity — and the risk of [an] anaemic foetus — would have been quite common amongst Neanderthals," Stephane Mazieres, a lead author on the research from Aix-Marseille University was quoted saying by the Daily Mail.

A group of scientists have discovered that a rare blood disorder could have had a severely negative impact on the offsprings of Neanderthals, as a result of sexual relations between human beings and Neanderthals.

A group of scientists have discovered that a rare blood disorder could have had a severely negative impact on the offsprings of Neanderthals, as a result of sexual relations between human beings and Neanderthals. According to a study published in PLOS One journal, the blood samples of Neanderthals show that their blood carried a specific set of genetic variants, which was susceptible to haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn (HDFN). Researchers believe that this HDFN can cause anaemia and usually worsens with second, third and following pregnancies. Also read | Scientists discover Neanderthals were painting caves in Europe This, they believe, could have led to a decrease in the number of Neanderthal children. "Analyses of blood group systems of Neanderthals and Denisovans contributed to a better understanding of their origin, expansion and encounters with Homo sapiens," the report read. Although this could have also happened as a result of sexual relationships solely between Neanderthals, the risk of HDFN is reported to be higher in cases of sexual relationships between human ancestors and Neanderthals. Also read | Researchers unveil ancient skull nicknamed as 'Dragon Man' "These elements could have contributed to weakening the descendants to the point of leading to their demise, especially combined with the competition with Homo sapiens for the same ecological niche," the report claims. While the disorder is considered to be extremely rare in human species now, it is considered to be common in Neanderthals as the species’ gene pool is very limited. "The fact that these forms of genes were detected in individuals separated by 4,000km and 50,000 years suggest that this genetic peculiarity — and the risk of [an] anaemic foetus — would have been quite common amongst Neanderthals," Stephane Mazieres, a lead author on the research from Aix-Marseille University was quoted saying by the Daily Mail.

Neanderthal's population might have declined due to sex with humans: Study

New fossils discovered in a cave in Belgium reveal that the Neanderthals’ last survivors perished in Europe thousands of years before the earlier estimate. The new study, which appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, undertaken by a collaborative team from Belgium, Britain, and Germany sheds light on when our close relative disappeared from the planet. Earlier readings of remains from “Spy Cave” put Neanderthals’ existence at roughly 24,000 years ago, but the new findings push the date to between 44,200-40,600 years.

 Neanderthals disappeared earlier than previously thought

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