Scientists find head of 'Abel'

29 May 2015 - 02:28 By © The Daily Telegraph

According to the Bible, Abel was the world's first murder victim, killed at the hands of his brother Cain. But now archaeologists have discovered a skull dating from 430000 years ago that shows distinct evidence of foul play.The scientists were able to determine that the victim was probably killed by two blows to the head before being tossed down a shaft in a cave.If so, the find represents the earliest known murder in human history.The truth of what occurred at the Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones) site in the Atapuerca Mountains, northern Spain, was revealed after researchers pieced together 52 bone fragments to reconstruct a near-complete skull.The skull is part of the skeletal remains of at least 28 individuals found in a chamber at the foot of the shaft.Reuters reports that jaw and tooth fossils found in Ethiopia's Afar region represent a previously unknown member of humanity's family tree that lived 3.3million to 3.5million years ago, in the same period as the famous human ancestor "Lucy". ..

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