> This seems way more likely than some unknown ritual. Back then humans were much more frequently in combat with animals. And gets even more likely if you take

> This seems way more likely than some unknown ritual. Back then humans were much more frequently in combat with animals. And gets even more likely if you take into account that a small bite almost certainly would get visibly infected, thus requiring amputation. You don't need germ theory to recognise a wound that is visibly infected.