Two views of Maba Man's skull show the position (bottom) and closeup detail of the ancient human's head wound.
Diagram courtesy University of the Witwatersrand
Published November 22, 2011
A viciously bashed prehistoric skull from China offers some of the earliest known evidence for violence between humans—but also suggests the ancient aggressors had a caring side.
The discovery is based on CT scans of a 126,000-year-old human known as Maba Man, so named because his fossil remains were found near Maba in Guangdong Province in 1958.
(Related: "Oldest Modern Human Outside of Africa Found.")
The scans revealed a skull fracture caused by blunt force trauma. The victim was probably clubbed with a weapon such as a stone, heavy bone, or lump of wood, according to a new study.
"This person had a pretty serious injury—it would have been a real good knock to the head," said team member Lynne Schepartz, of the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.
The blow likely caused bleeding and a concussion—inducing nausea, vomiting, and perhaps even brain damage—leaving the victim prone and helpless, Schepartz said.
(Related: "Wounded Iceman Made Epic Final Journey, Moss Shows.")
But the scans also showed that the wound eventually healed and that Maba Man lived for years afterward, something that means the hurt man was likely cared for after his injury.
"The bone was depressed inward, pressing on soft tissue," Schepartz said. "And yet this person survived for a long period of time and it was not the immediate cause of [his] death."
Depending on Others to Survive
Although accidental injury can't be ruled out, modern forensic science and other evidence points to foul play, the team reports.
"It's hard to imagine how you would get just that one area of impact from, say, a fall," Schepartz commented.
Despite the blow, the remains show that Maba Man lived until his 40s—a ripe old age for a prehistoric human.
The team says his recovery supports evidence from previous fossil studies that Neanderthals and other ancient humans, while often violently aggressive, also took care of their sick and vulnerable.
(Related: "King Tut Died in Hunting Accident, Expert Says.")
Maba Man's convalescence would have taken days if not weeks, Schepartz noted.
"He probably had to rest up and needed help with food and cooking," she said.
"In a hunting-gathering society of that sort, you would really be dependent on others to help you out."
The ancient head wound is described online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.
Also see "Human Meat Just Another Meal for Early Europeans?"
Latest News
Most Popular News
-
Photos: Limbless Amphibians Found
They aren't worms or even snakes. They're burrowing, limbless amphibians, and they're completely new to science, a new study suggests.
-
Moon Tectonically Active?
Long trenches spotted on lunar highlands suggest that the moon has been recently active, geologically speaking.
-
New Time-Lapse: Starry Nights in Atacama
It's cold, it's dry, the air is thin, and the only nighttime lights are the stars in the sky. Astronomers, welcome to paradise.
Advertisement
News Blogs
-
The Road Less Traveled in Climate-Change Solutions
The global warming outlook is bleak, but fortunately, it looks like one alternative mitigation strategy can at least buy us time.
-
New Time-Lapse: Starry Nights in Atacama
It's cold, it's dry, the air is thin, and the only nighttime lights are the stars in the sky. Astronomers, welcome to paradise.
-
Linkin Park's Bid to "Power the World"
The American band known for fusing rock and rap is organizing solutions to energy poverty in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
ScienceBlogs Picks
Connect With Nat Geo
Got Something to Share?
Special Ad Section
Great Energy Challenge Blog
Green Living Hot Topics
-
Organic Air Fresheners
Avoid toxic chemicals and create a calming space.
-
Surprising Recyclable Household Items
With a little know-how, you can recycle more than you think.
-
Side Effects of Vegetarianism
Find out how to stay healthy and eat lower on the food chain.
