A fossil shin bone discovered in northern Kenya carries marks that may point to an unusual episode in the lives of early human relatives. The 1.45-million-year-old specimen has nine grooves identified as consistent with stone-tool cutting, raising the possibility that hominins processed another hominin for food.
A research team led by paleoanthropologist Briana Pobiner of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History examined the fossil using 3D scans. The marks were compared with a database of 898 marks made by tools, animal teeth and trampling. Nine of the 11 marks matched stone-tool cuts; the other two appeared consistent with bites from a large animal.
Evidence, not a definitive answer
The cuts are positioned where calf muscles attach to the bone, suggesting an effort to remove flesh. Their pattern resembles marks on animal bones butchered for food. However, the fossil alone cannot establish that the flesh was eaten, identify who made the cuts or determine whether the individuals belonged to the same species. The bone's species attribution also remains uncertain.
Published in Scientific Reports, the study adds a rare piece of evidence to research on how ancient hominins interacted with one another. Further discoveries and improved analysis of fossil marks may help researchers build a clearer picture of early human behavior.
The finding highlights how a small number of traces can broaden scientific understanding while leaving important questions open. Future fossil research may reveal more about the diverse behaviors that shaped human evolution.
