ANCIENT residents of Torbay may have been cannibals, new research has found.

The discovery was made after scientists found a cut mark, made by stone tools, in a 9,000-year-old bone recovered from Kents Cavern prehistoric caves.

Some archaeologists have interpreted the mark as evidence of cannibalism but ritual burial practice or dismemberment for transportation has not be ruled out.

Torquay Museum researchers working with the University of Oxford School of Archeology and Radio Carbon Accelerator Unit said the cut marks in the bone made with a stone tool are consistent with an act of de-fleshing or dismemberment.

Scientists say the fragment is also fractured in a way that suggests this occurred while the bone was fresh.

The bone was first found in 1866 by world famous archaeologist William Pengelly, who spent 15 years excavating Kents Cavern.

The bone was 'rediscovered' in December last year by Barry Chandler, Torquay Museum's curator of collections.

In June it was radiocarbon dated as part of a scheme the museum is undertaking to catalogue all 15,000 animal bones recovered from Kents Cavern.

The bone was found to be around 9,000 years old and contain the unusual cut marks.

Mr Chandler said: "The cut marks, which are in several groups, were immediately noticeable. But the excellent preservation of the bone made me believe it was probably from the Bronze Age or maybe Neolithic, so the 9,000 year-old date came as a bit of a shock."

Tom Higham from the Oxford University Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit added: "The bone was particularly well-preserved and the result is seen as very reliable."

The butchered human bone can be seen in the Ancestors Exhibition which runs at Torquay Museum until September 6.