While cannibalism existed there are still cultures that used human bones as implements without cannibalism. On example would be in Buddhism skull cups/bowls.

Sorry this gets disgusting.

If they truly wished to know if cannibalism was done they would need to find some form of waste pit. The eating of human flesh leaves markers in feces. I believe amino acids. I am trying to remember a science report I read years ago (I work in the mail room of a pharmaceutical research company and would sometimes glance through the pubs) about tracing movements Aztec priests believed to have escaped. They were tracing a pattern in ritual cannibalism moving north in areas where no such practices were ever known.

On the absorbing of the enemies powers is a common concept but I never have come across in anything but in fiction. My wife thinks that the Native American may have practiced this with animals.


Jim



Jim