A death 430,000 years ago may be the first confirmed murder in human history. Scientists using modern forensic techniques have determined the victim was probably killed by two blows to the head before being tossed down a cave system shaft.

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 in Madrid pieced together 52 fragments of a near-complete skull.

Two holes close together above the left eye were caused by separate impacts from the same object. The injuries were not consistent with an accidental fall down the 43ft vertical shaft, the researchers from the Centre for the Evolution and Human Behaviour said. The Spanish and US-led international team concluded: “Given that either of the two traumatic events was likely lethal, the presence of multiple blows implies an intention to kill.”

We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view. From 15p €0.18 $0.18 $0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras.

Shape Created with Sketch. Recent archaeological discoveries Show all 11 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Recent archaeological discoveries 1/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Divers Alberto Nava and Susan Bird discover the world's oldest skull found in an underwater cave in Mexico, believed to be the earliest trace of first Americans 2/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Paleontologist Gary Morgan stands over the fossil of a stegomastodon skull discovered in a remote area of Elephant Butte State Park, N.M. in June 2012 AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Roberto Rosales 3/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Scientists discovered the world’s oldest face, which belongs to this 419 million-year-old fish - an ancient sea predator that might also re-write the history of our evolution from the seas 4/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries An archaeologist discovered a tomb of an intact mummy of the Wari prehispanic culture in Lima's Huaca Pucllana ceremonial complex, at Miraflores district Reuters 5/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries One of the 46 fossils found at the site in southern Chile Wolfgang Stinnesbeck 6/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Archaeologist James Best holding a Roman skull found during the building of a utility tunnel at Crossrail's Liverpool Street station site, London PA 7/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries In 2012 archaeologists unearthed two skeletons from the Middle Ages pierced through the chest with iron rods to keep them from turning into vampires. They were discovered in the Black Sea town of Sozopol, Bulgaria AFP/Getty Images 8/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Several horse shoes dating from the 2nd century AD have been found stuck in cart ruts in this area. Archaeologists believe the metal shoes, which were strapped rather than nailed to horses, came off as the animals were led up to a timber bridge over the Walbrook River PA 9/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries An archaeologist digs out a skull from the site of the graveyard of the Bethlehem, or Bedlam, hospital Reuters 10/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Archaeologists discovered a dinosaur tail in Mexico's desert with the 50 vertebrae of the tail completely intact AP 11/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Archaeologist found a terracotta warrior at the excavation site inside the No. 1 pit of the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses, on the outskirts of Xi'an, Shaanxi province, in June 2010 © Jason Lee / Reuters 1/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Divers Alberto Nava and Susan Bird discover the world's oldest skull found in an underwater cave in Mexico, believed to be the earliest trace of first Americans 2/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Paleontologist Gary Morgan stands over the fossil of a stegomastodon skull discovered in a remote area of Elephant Butte State Park, N.M. in June 2012 AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Roberto Rosales 3/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Scientists discovered the world’s oldest face, which belongs to this 419 million-year-old fish - an ancient sea predator that might also re-write the history of our evolution from the seas 4/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries An archaeologist discovered a tomb of an intact mummy of the Wari prehispanic culture in Lima's Huaca Pucllana ceremonial complex, at Miraflores district Reuters 5/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries One of the 46 fossils found at the site in southern Chile Wolfgang Stinnesbeck 6/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Archaeologist James Best holding a Roman skull found during the building of a utility tunnel at Crossrail's Liverpool Street station site, London PA 7/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries In 2012 archaeologists unearthed two skeletons from the Middle Ages pierced through the chest with iron rods to keep them from turning into vampires. They were discovered in the Black Sea town of Sozopol, Bulgaria AFP/Getty Images 8/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Several horse shoes dating from the 2nd century AD have been found stuck in cart ruts in this area. Archaeologists believe the metal shoes, which were strapped rather than nailed to horses, came off as the animals were led up to a timber bridge over the Walbrook River PA 9/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries An archaeologist digs out a skull from the site of the graveyard of the Bethlehem, or Bedlam, hospital Reuters 10/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Archaeologists discovered a dinosaur tail in Mexico's desert with the 50 vertebrae of the tail completely intact AP 11/11 Recent archaeologist's discoveries Archaeologist found a terracotta warrior at the excavation site inside the No. 1 pit of the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses, on the outskirts of Xi'an, Shaanxi province, in June 2010 © Jason Lee / Reuters

We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.

At The Independent, no one tells us what to write. That’s why, in an era of political lies and Brexit bias, more readers are turning to an independent source. Subscribe from just 15p a day for extra exclusives, events and ebooks – all with no ads.

Subscribe now