Scientists reveal an uncomfortable truth about Europe: it has its own skeletons in the closet.

Throughout history, Western Europe has often been depicted as the center of civilization, contrasting itself against the "barbaric" practices of other countries, particularly cannibalism. However, evidence indicates that the consumption of human body parts persisted in Western Europe since prehistoric times, writes Live Science.

Studies show that the first humans in Europe engaged in cannibalism for various reasons, including nutritional needs and ritualistic purposes. During the Middle Ages, amid famine, wars, and social unrest, instances of cannibalism were documented as desperate survival measures.

Moreover, a form of medical cannibalism emerged, where parts of the human body were used as medicine. For instance, in the 17th century, a Franciscan apothecary provided a recipe for blood jam, emphasizing the belief in the healing properties of human blood.

The perception of the human body as a source of medicinal materials led to various practices. Between the end of Roman antiquity and the early Middle Ages, laws such as the Theodosian Code and the Visigothic Law prohibited the disturbance of graves for the extraction of substances like blood for medicinal preparation.

This indicates that legal attempts to restrict the use of human remains for medical purposes existed as early as the 7th century. The persistence of such laws suggests that this practice continued to develop despite official prohibitions.

With the spread of Christianity, ecclesiastical authorities sought to regulate public behavior through texts listing sins and their corresponding penances. For example, some of these texts prohibited the consumption of blood or urine, imposing severe penalties for such actions.

Others explicitly forbade the consumption of blood or semen, particularly addressing women who ingested their husbands' blood due to its alleged healing properties. These prohibitions illustrate the church's efforts to control and suppress practices deemed inappropriate or superstitious.

The intertwining of religious beliefs and the use of human body parts further illustrates the veneration of saints. It was believed that the bodies of saints possessed miraculous healing powers, leading to practices where substances that came into contact with their relics—such as oil, water, or even dust from their burial sites—were consumed by believers seeking healing.

This transition from the consumption of the dead (thanatophagy) to the consumption of saints (agiophagy) reflects the changing cultural and religious landscape of the time.

A notable narrative illustrating the tension between pagan practices and new Christian values is the legend of Pope Sylvester I and Emperor Constantine. According to this tale, Constantine, afflicted with leprosy, was advised to bathe in the blood of slain children to cure himself.

However, Saint Sylvester and the mothers of the children persuaded him to abandon this horrific remedy in favor of baptism, which miraculously healed him. This story, spread throughout Europe, served to demonstrate the superiority of the Christian faith over previous pagan customs.

Even in the 19th century, remnants of medical cannibalism persisted. Medical material dictionaries of that era, such as José Oriol Ronquillo's 1855 edition, mentioned human body parts—fat, blood, and urine—as having healing properties.

These enduring beliefs intertwined with the era's fascination with Gothic literature, which encompassed themes of vampires, werewolves, and other creatures associated with the consumption of human flesh and blood.

Understanding this complex history challenges the notion of a clear distinction between "civilized" Europe and "barbaric" practices. It reveals that cannibalism in various forms not only persisted but also permeated European medical and religious traditions.

We also reported on the Etruscan tombs discovered in Italy. Despite the looting of past generations, archaeologists uncovered numerous artifacts.