Fine old cannibals

THE merest whiff of cannibalism in a story is enough to whet most journalists' appetites, but archaeologists and anthropologists are far more restrained. Although tales of man-eating people are found from Mexico to Papua New Guinea, actual instances of cannibalism are far harder to prove, according to Tim White, a biologist at the University of California, Berkeley. Native folklore can be an unreliable source, since such stories often refer to the dim and distant past and may have been put about by those with an interest in undermining the putative cannibals in the first place. There are established physical hallmarks, such as the condition of human bones discovered at ancient settlements, which strongly suggest the practice. But given the current climate of political correctness, Dr White reckons that the burden of proof for cannibalism has become heavier in recent years.