In 2013, scientists discovered human remains in a Spanish cave, Sima de los huesos, dating back 430,000 years. The remains showed signs of intentional murder, with two identical fractures above the left eye likely caused by a stone spear or axe. This find challenges the debate between Thomas Hobbes' and Jean Jacques Rousseau's views on human nature, suggesting that violence has been present in human history since the early species of humans. The discovery was not an isolated incident, as another skull found in a Romanian cave, dated to 33,000 years ago, also showed signs of intentional murder. The study of these ancient crimes suggests that the root of violence lies in natural selection and evolution, and that humans have both aggressive and empathetic tendencies.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. In 2013, scientists discovered human remains in the Spanish cave of Sima de los huesos.
2. The cave is located at a depth of 43 feet or 13 meters, making it uninhabitable for humans.
3. The remains were found at the bottom of the cave with no signs of a burial site.
4. The remains were dated to approximately 430,000 years ago.
5. A skull was assembled from 52 fragments and showed two fractures above the left eye.
6. The fractures were symmetrical and identical, suggesting a deliberate blow.
7. The blow was likely caused by a stone spear or axe.
8. The attack was intentional and struck the area above the left eye with the attacker's right hand.
9. The killer dragged the lifeless body and dropped it to the bottom of the cave.
10. Besides the murdered man, the remains of another 28 people were found in the cave.
11. No traces of violent death were found on the other skeletons, but scientists believe they were already dead when dropped to the bottom of the cave.
12. The discovery is considered one of the first known cases of murder in human history.
13. The remains were from an early species of humans, not Homo sapiens.
14. Another discovery was made in the Romanian cave of C Lavina, where a skull with unusual injuries was found.
15. The skull was dated to approximately 33,000 years ago.
16. The injuries were caused by a blunt object, and the victim did not die instantly.
17. The killer was likely left-handed.
18. The case is one of the first known killings among Homo sapiens in modern times.
19. Evolutionary biologists believe that the cause of modern violence is natural selection, which favored individuals with a propensity towards cruelty.
20. Only 30% of female murder victims are killed by strangers, while 48.3% are killed by their spouses or former spouses.