Overview
- The peer-reviewed research, led by teams from CNRS, Université de Bordeaux and Aix-Marseille, was published November 19 in Scientific Reports.
- Bone fragments from the Troisième caverne of Goyet show fresh-bone fractures, percussion marks and cut traces matching patterns seen on processed animal carcasses.
- Ancient DNA identifies at least six individuals, including four adult women and two male children, dated to roughly 41,000–45,000 years ago.
- Isotopic and genetic data indicate the victims were likely outsiders to the local group, supporting an interpretation of exocannibalism.
- The authors propose intergroup tensions as a possible context for the selective targeting but emphasize the small sample and limits on inferring motives.