The word cannibalism originates from the Island Carib after unearthed 17th century legends suggested that the eating of human flesh was part of their culture (although this has since been debated). Instances of human cannibalism have been documented all over the world. It’s been practiced in countries like Great Britain, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, the Amazon basin, the Congo and amongst Maoris in New Zealand. But the original cannibals weren’t actually homo sapiens. Archaeological evidence suggests that it was practiced by other early hominins, with evidence of “de-fleshed” bones dating back 600,000 years.