Fine old cannibals.

The article examines the long history and complex motivations behind human cannibalism, presenting archaeological and anthropological evidence that it has been practiced by various hominin species for over a million years. It highlights cases from sites such as Gough's Cave in England and Atapuerca in Spain, where cannibalism appears linked not only to survival but also to funerary rituals expressing respect for the dead. The article also discusses how colonial-era stereotypes distorted perceptions of cannibalism and how modern research has refined methods to identify genuine instances of the practice. Additionally, it addresses health risks associated with cannibalism, noting that proper cooking mitigates most dangers except those related to prion diseases from consuming human brains.