There is a cave in Cheddar, Somerset (UK), known as Gough's Cave, which is believed to have had human occupation for over 9,000 years.
     Now a team of scientists, comprising researchers from the London Natural History Museum, the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology & Social Evolution and Virgili University of Tarragona (Spain) have been examining the marks found on human skull remains uncovered in the cave. So far the marks point towards a form of cannibalism, possibly for ritualistic purposes.
     One of the leaders of the research team, Francesc Marginedas, from the Virgili University, is quoted as saying "This practice [use of human skulls] could be related to decapitations for obtaining war trophies, to the production of masks as decorative elements, even with engravings, or to what is known as skull cups. In fact, some ancient societies considered that human skulls possessed powers or life force, justifying sometimes its collection as evidence of superiority and authority during violent confrontations".
     Evidence of this type of cannibalism has been found on other sites, dating back over 15,000 years

Edited from Fox News (20 January 2020)