This study looks at ancient burial practices in the Cueva de los Marmoles, a cave in southern Spain dating between the fifth and second century BCE.Archaeologists examined skeletal remains found in the cave and found evidence of complex funerary practices, with evidence that bones were modified and even used as tools.
They also found one skull cup, which they believe was used as a drinking cup.
The skull cup was marked with shallow cuts where ancient humans had tried to clean away the soft tissues, and there is also evidence that they attempted to access the marrow.
Although they consider cannibalism, the cuts on the skull cup more likely came from trying to remove soft tissue than butchery, and the placement of bones suggested that humans had returned to the caves after the dead had been buried to modify the bones and perhaps eat the marrow, which is nutritious.
The study is published in PLOS One.
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