Cannibalism

The Ancients

History Hit

History

4.7 • 4.5K Ratings

🗓️ 6 January 2022

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It’s a macabre topic to discuss, but also one that has fascinated people for generations. So what has archaeology revealed about cannibalism among prehistoric societies? And if cannibalism does seem to have been practised among certain groups, then why? Appalachian State University’s Dr Marc Kissel dialled in from North Carolina to talk us through several cases of potential cannibalism in prehistory, from Neanderthals to the Neolithic.

Marc’s Twitter: @MarcKissel

Order Tristan’s book today: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Perdiccas-Years-323-Alexanders-Successors/dp/1526775115/ref=zg_bsnr_271237_68/260-7675295-7826601?pd_rd_i=1526775115&psc=1

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Transcript

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0:00.0	It's the Engines on History Hit. I'm Tristan Hughes, your host, and in today's podcast,
0:15.4	what we are talking all about cannibalism. Cannibalism in prehistoric society. So we're
0:21.2	going to be covering thousands of years. Over a million years, in fact, we're going
0:25.6	to be covering case studies varying from one and a half million years ago, roughly that
0:29.7	time, to 600,000 years ago, deep in the Paleolithic, to more recent times, to the mesolithic,
0:36.0	to the Neolithic, and ultimately, to the Bronze Age. We're going to be covering various
0:40.4	case studies, potential evidence of cannibalism among certain prehistoric societies.
0:46.8	Now, to talk through all of this, I was delighted to get on the podcast, Dr. Mark Kissle.
0:52.4	He's an assistant professor at Appalachian States University in North Carolina. He works closely
0:58.3	with Dr. Nam Kim, Nam, who's been on the podcast a few times recently. You might remember our
1:04.2	podcasts on the origins of civilization or the origins of warfare. Now, Mark and Nam,
1:09.6	they work closely, particularly on the origins of warfare, on the emergence of warfare. And
1:15.0	Mark has a particular interest in these cases of early potential cannibalism. Now, Mark,
1:21.0	he also featured in a new history hits documentary, also called The Origins of Warfare. We had
1:26.5	to get him on the podcast to talk about this extraordinary topic. It was great to finally
1:31.7	chat to him. We had a lot of fun. So, without further ado, to talk all about cannibalism
1:36.9	and prehistoric societies, here's Mark.
1:45.4	Mark, great to have you on the podcast.
1:47.3	Oh, I'm happy to be here.
1:48.9	Now, you are very welcome to be here, especially you know, star of our most recent documentaries,
1:53.4	all about the origins of warfare. You're a good friend of the ancients veteran that is Nam Kim
1:58.3	and his origins of warfare, origins of civilization and the like. And today, we're talking about
	...

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