A cat, a dog, a badger - such a menu could have been among the ancient Europeans who lived in the Bronze Age
Scientists came to this conclusion by studying the traces of human teeth on the bones of these animals, which were found in the Sierra de Atapuerca cave, famous for its archaeological finds. The Iberians of the Neolithic era used this cave as a corral for cattle, but, apparently, small predators, which the ancestors of Europeans also eaten, could also live here.
In the cave of El Mirador, the dogs were dismembered, the meat was separated from the bones and boiled.
- Study lead author Patricia Martin
Fortunately, as Patricia Martin herself believes, people resorted to such a diet only in times of famine. However, it cannot be ruled out that the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula considered dog meat to be an important source of protein or a valuable delicacy. It is also possible that dogs were killed for their skins and not for food. Wild cats and badgers could go for food - unless, of course, it was possible to get larger game on the hunt.
The Sierra de Atapuerca grotto is located in the area of the city of Burgos (Spain). This is a very famous place, rich in archaeological material and included in the World Heritage List in connection with the unique finds found in this place. Among them are the bones of the most ancient man in Europe, Homo antecessor and Homo heidelbergensis.