Human bones with cut marks suggesting cannibalism 120,000 years ago. Our ancestors may have eaten each other. And the marks are unmistakable.
John Atherton, CC BY-SA 2.0
A meal of our own kind
The Klasies River mouth complex consists of several caves and overhangs containing a 21-meter-thick deposit of human occupation layers. Within these layers, which date back as far as 125,000 years, archaeologists found fragmented human bones. Several of these remains, including a frontal bone, have distinct stone tool cut marks. Many of the bones were also burned. The evidence strongly suggests that for a period of over 40,000 years, the inhabitants of these caves practiced cannibalism. Whether this was for ritual purposes or simple survival is unknown.
These remains are some of the oldest known fossils of anatomically modern humans, Homo sapiens. The fragmentary jaws show a prominent chin, and the limb bones are indistinguishable from our own, setting them apart from archaic humans like Neanderthals. The discoveries at Klasies River are primary evidence for the theory that modern humans originated in Africa.
A Middle Stone Age coastline
The people at Klasies River were adaptable hunter-gatherers. The caves contain immense shell middens, showing that they systematically harvested marine resources from the coast. This diet, high in proteins and fatty acids, may have contributed to the cognitive development of early humans. Besides shellfish, they hunted seals and large land animals, including the giant buffalo Pelorovis antiquus.
The inhabitants also made extensive use of fire. The deposits are filled with numerous hearths, which were simple hollows about 300 millimeters in diameter, surrounded by carbonized plant matter and burnt food waste. Analysis of charred remains shows they cooked and ate starch-rich plant bulbs, or geophytes. The stone tool technology also evolved over time. The older layers contain large quartzite points and blades from the Middle Stone Age I and II periods. Around 70,000 years ago, these were replaced by a more refined toolkit known as the Howiesons Poort industry, which featured smaller blades made from a wider variety of stone.
💡Fun Facts
The human fossils found here include jaws with chins, a feature unique to modern *Homo sapiens*.
The deposits containing evidence of human life are over 20 meters deep, accumulating over a period of roughly 70,000 years.
The stone tool industry called Howiesons Poort, found in the upper layers, is considered a precursor to the more advanced technologies of the Upper Paleolithic.
The caves preserve one of the longest continuous records of human settlement from the Middle Stone Age in sub-Saharan Africa.
The caves are a protected National Heritage Site and are not open for casual public access. Visits must be arranged in advance through certified guides or researchers.
Admission
Varies by tour operator.
Accessibility
The site is located at the base of a cliff on a rugged coastline, and access involves walking over uneven terrain.
