Humans are calorically dense enough that it is no surprise that some ancient cultures engaged in cannibalism - or even more modern people in the right circumstances. Humans are calorically dense enough that it is no surprise that some ancient cultures engaged in cannibalism - or even more modern people in the right circumstances. It's not just taboo for a cultural reason, humans figured out quickly that there was a science basis. ImageIn the US we call this a Russian Nesting Doll but they are in lots of countries. Two were actually murdered; Miwok guides who refused to engage in cannibalism and left because they figured they would be next.