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Cannibalism in the Archaeological Record Survival, Ritual, and the Stories We Get Wrong

Cannibalism in the Archaeological Record Survival, Ritual, and the Stories We Get Wrong

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Content Note:

This episode discusses cannibalism in the archaeological record from an educational and anthropological perspective. The discussion is non-graphic and focuses on evidence, context, and ethics, but the topic may be distressing for some listeners. Please listen with care.

Cannibalism is often portrayed as monstrous, but the archaeological record tells a more complicated story.


In this episode, we explore cannibalism in the archaeological record, including survival cannibalism during famine, ritualized practices, and how archaeologists identify cannibalism through osteological evidence such as cut marks, percussion damage, and marrow extraction.


Using examples like Gough’s Cave, this episode examines why cannibalism occurs under extreme conditions and why modern assumptions often misunderstand ancient behavior.


An ethical, evidence-based exploration of one of archaeology’s most challenging topics.


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YouTube: Field Notes From The Dead

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website: fieldnotesfromthedead.com
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