CHRISTOPHER Columbus may have encountered hoards of savage cannibals when he arrived in the Caribbean. The legendary explorer claimed that South American “cannibal marauders” were running riot on the islands during his 1492 visit, and now scientists have backed up his tale. They revealed that an indigenous South American group known as the “Caribs” invaded the islands in 800AD – hundreds of years earlier than previous estimates.

Columbus said that war-mongering Carib raiders “practiced abduction of women and cannibalism of men” on the peaceful Arawaks, who also lived there. His claims had been refuted by scientists as it was believed the Caribs didn’t invade the islands until at least 100 years after Columbus and his Spanish invaders got there. However, a new analysis of some of the earliest skulls found on the island prove that the Caribs were indeed there around the time of Columbus’ voyage.