Evidence of early-European savagery may have been a pre-historic sign of things to come.
Archaeologists from the University of Bordeaux have unearthed evidence that may point to ritualistic human mutilation of unborn babies, infants and adults including proof of cannibalism by Euro-Caucasian people.
The archaeologists told the BBC that they had found evidence that human bones were deliberately cut and broken – a tell-tale indication of cannibalism.
“We see patterns on the bones of animals indicating that they have been spit-roasted,” said a lead archaeologist with the project. “We have seen some of these same patterns on the human bones.”
This is likely the largest site of mass cannibalism ever found in human history. Up to 500 human remains unearthed near the village of Herxheim in southwest Germany may have been cannibalised.
Contrary to conventional history, Europeans actually have an extensive history of grim, foreboding violence. This evidence may point to the earliest known example of European atrocities and savagery.
Such proof of brutal Eurocentric violence may explain a pre-supposition to violent tendencies. This would later take the form of barbarism, colonialist violence, historic episodes of genocide and forms of violence used in the family and against those most vulnerable parts of society.
Other pervasive examples include the Crusades, the Inquisition, imperialism, genocide and the Holocaust. The greatest hostilities known to mankind include the American Civil War, the World Wars, the development of modern warfare, biological and chemical warfare and nuclear weapons. Indigenous specific examples of European violence includes the Trail of Tears, the forced removal of First Nations children, widespread physical and sexual abuse in residential schools and the assimilation of Aboriginal people. All of these were first perpetrated by European societies.
But such brutal, Eurocentric violence may also explain the roots of such wide-spread concepts as sexual abuse, corporal punishment, gender inequality, violence against women and the elderly. These were all concepts introduced by Europeans and mostly foreign to First Nations people.
Such Eurocentric savagery, although certainly wrong and abnormal, may have been seen as acceptable at the time, just like violence forced upon European adversaries had been seen as acceptable throughout the course of history.
It is well known that Europeans who first arrived to North America called First Nations people “savages”. Early explorers reported unfounded myths of ritualistic human sacrifices and cannibalism.
But this was in stark contrast to archaeological and anthropological evidence. The realities point to early aboriginal people as generous, humble and spiritual people.
However, such negative myths have perpetuated into the present-day, and ironically, is a prime example of lateral violence. Many people continue to believe such unfounded stories of North American aboriginal people today. This perpetuates stereotypes of First Nations people as savages.
Given the savagery of early Europe, the history books may need to be re-written.
Europeans also brought forward the concept of “evil” as well as the embodiment of evil: Satan and a place called “hell”. These were strictly Christian themes. Satan and hell were not aboriginal concepts, and were not a part of our communities until brought in my Europeans.
The Herxheim site is the greatest evidence ever unearthed pointing to a European-based, “hell on Earth”.
The facts are real, the conclusions are only tongue-in-cheek. But it’s written to solicit a reaction. Perhaps the same reaction I got whenever First Nations were referred to as “savage”, or when we were taught that Indians were scalpers and cannibals.