The history of cannibalism has been part of societies’ history from time immemorial. The word cannibalism is derived from the Spanish term ‘Caníbales’, for the West Indian ‘Carib’ tribe of native Americans who, according to the explorer Christopher Columbus, were claimed to have supplemented their fruit and fish diet with human flesh.

The Caribbean Sea is named after the Carib, who probably originated in the valley of the Orinoco River, and they were noted for their ferocity. During the late 15th century the Carib inhabited most of the islands of the Lesser Antilles and the coast of what is now Venezuela; territories from which they had expelled the Arawak people. Carib men valued exploits in combat above all else. They were not organized into a hierarchical structure under a chief, but fought as individual warriors and raided other peoples. And, it is also said that male captives were tortured and eaten while female captives became slave-wives. …