A new discovery in northern Europe reinforces previous findings elsewhere that the extinct race of Neanderthals were cannibals that ate their fellow Neanderthals although the reason why remains unclear. Neanderthals went extinct some 30,000 years ago.

Neanderthal remains radiocarbon-dated to 40,500 to 45,500 years ago and unearthed by archaeologists in the Goyet caves in Belgium revealed the first evidence of Neanderthal cannibalism in northern Europe.

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Based on the marks left on the bones, these Neanderthals were butchered and their bones used as tools, according to archaeologists. A thigh bone and three shinbones were used to help shape stone tools used by the Neanderthal group at the Belgian site.

Cannibalism among Neanderthals was first detected in Neanderthal sites at El Sidrón and Zafarraya in Spain and at the French sites Moula-Guercy and Les Pradelles.

Scientists pointed out the cuts and notches on the bones were evidence the bodies had been butchered. They also believe these bodies were skinned and sliced-up and the bone marrow removed.

"These indications allow us to assume that Neanderthals practiced cannibalism," said Hervé Bocherens, one of the lead researchers from Tübingen's Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment.

Scientists aren't sure if the cannibalism was part of a ceremonial ritual and Bocherens noted the remains of horses and reindeer in Goyet were also butchered the same way.

"The big differences in the behavior of these people on the one hand, and the close genetic relationship between late European Neanderthals on the other hand, raise many questions about the social lives and exchange between various groups," said Bocherens.

Researchers identified 99 "uncertain" bone fragments as belonging to Neanderthals. This makes the find the largest trove of Neanderthal remains ever found north of the Alps.

The findings also reveal more about the genetics of the Neanderthals, and add to existing data on Neanderthal genes.

Tagsneanderthals, cannibalism, Goyet caves, Belgium