33 Yustos & Yravedra Article JTa160. All rights reserved. *E-mail: mar_saja22@hotmail.com 2015 Journal of Taphonomy PROMETHEUS PRESS/PALAEONTOLOGICAL NETWORK FOUNDATION (TERUEL) VOLUME 13 (ISSUE 1) Available online at www.journaltaphonomy.com Cannibalism in the Neanderthal World: An Exhaustive Revision Marta Yustos*, José Yravedra Sainz de los Terreros Dep. de Prehistoria, Facultad de Geografía e Historia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Calle Profesor Aranguren s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid Journal of Taphonomy 13 (1) (2015), 33-52. Manuscript received 29 September 2014, revised manuscript accepted 19 January2015. Introduction Cannibalism has always raised great interest. Documented evidence of cut marks on human bones reveals that cannibalism may not have been uncommon for the different hominins from the Early Pleistocene. Hence, there is evidence of human induced modifications on Homo antecessor bones in level TD6 of Gran Dolina (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain) (Fernández-Jalvo et al., 1996, 1999; Saladié et al., 2012) and on the Bodo skull (White, 1986); as well as on Neanderthal remains from diverse European sites such as Moula-Guercy (France), El Sidrón and Zafarraya caves (Spain) or Goyet (Belgium) (Defleur et al., 1999; Barroso, 2003; Garralda et al., 2005; Mussini, 2011; de la Rasilla et al., 2011; Valensi et al., 2012; Rougier et al., 2016). It is also evident in Homo sapiens assemblages from diverse chronology, including sites from historical times (Arens, 1979; Villa et al., 1986; White, 1992; Hurlbut, 2000; Cáceres et al., 2007; Bello et al., 2015; Sala & Conard, 2016). Regardless the chronology of these cannibalistic practices, what is at stake is the causes leading to such activity, which Cannibalism is a controversial subject that has always created great expectation. Different evidences found show it was a recurrent practice amongst the different hominine species from the Lower Pleistocene to historic times. However, understanding the reasons behind this behavior in such chronologies is a complicated matter. Several Neanderthal sites have uncovered new data on anthropogenic alterations on human remains, along with a great diversity of interpretations. Some authors highlight the possibility of a ritual or symbolic meaning whereas others believe this was due to dietary necessities since studied cut marks resemble those found on faunal remains. The aim of this study is to carry out an exhaustive Neanderthal cannibalism bibliographic revision, with especial focus on taphonomical evidences such as cut mark frequencies and cut mark anatomical distribution. The main objective of this study is therefore to ponder on Neanderthal cannibalism and propose new insights on this behavior. Keywords: NEANDERTHALS, CANNIBALISM, CUT MARKS, DEFLESHING, TAPHONOMY