Mass cannibalism evidence found in Germany

(Press TV) -- Archaeologists have unearthed 500 human remains in Germany as evidence of mass cannibalism in Europe's early Neolithic period.

The archaeologists have discovered rare evidence of mass cannibalism in a 7,000-year-old human burial ground in south-west Germany, the journal Antiquity reported.

Bruno Boulestin, the leader of a team of archaeologists, told BBC that the human bones were deliberately cut and broken adding it can be an indication of cannibalism.

Research revealed the intentionally mutilated remains included children and even unborn babies. Such findings strengthen the researchers' theory of cannibalism.

“We see patterns on the bones of animals indicating that they have been spit-roasted. We have seen some of these same patterns on the human bones in this site.” the team leader Bruno Boulestin said.

Boulestin, however, stressed it was difficult to confirm the bones had been deliberately cooked.

Some scientists are skeptical about the cannibalism theory, suggesting that the removal of flesh could have been part of a burial ritual.