Tag: Prehistoric nutrition

Recent archaeological findings at the site of Gesher Benot Ya’akov suggest early humans were processing and consuming a wide variety of starchy plants as far back as 780,000 years ago. This discovery fundamentally challenges the long-held assumption that prehistoric diets consisted almost exclusively of meat. Far from a meat-only regimen, early hominids developed sophisticated methods for processing and enjoying plant-based foods, fundamentally altering our understanding of human nutrition and evolution.

Based on microfossil evidence from Neanderthal teeth, it is clear that early humans consumed a wide array of foods, not just meat, and that hunter-gatherers eat eggs whenever they are opportunistically available. These nutritional powerhouses offered a quick and calorie-dense food source that was valuable for survival and contributed significantly to their diet when found.

While the popular "Paleo diet" is a modern construct, archaeological evidence and analysis of dental plaque reveal that Paleolithic humans consumed a vast and varied diet, not just lean meat. Their nutrition was directly shaped by what could be hunted, fished, or gathered in their specific region and climate, making the question of what kind of food did the Paleolithic eat far more complex than it might seem.

Evidence suggests that the earliest human diet was a highly opportunistic and varied omnivorous mix of plants and animal products. This diet, and the subsequent shifts over millions of years, played a crucial role in human evolution and survival.

Over 2 million years ago, early hominids began incorporating significant amounts of meat and marrow into their diets, a key shift from their primarily herbivorous primate ancestors. When hunger struck, early humans relied on an omnivorous, highly adaptable diet that changed based on their environment, the season, and their access to tools. Their meals were a direct reflection of what they could hunt, gather, or scavenge from the wild.

Contrary to the popular image of our ancestors as ravenous meat-eaters, archeological findings have shown that the diet of people 100 thousand years ago was far more diverse and varied by region. This period, during the Middle Paleolithic, saw early modern humans and Neanderthals foraging and hunting opportunistically for what was available in their local environments.

Recent archaeological digs in the Peruvian Andes have revealed that ancient hunter-gatherers' diets may have been up to 80% plant-based, debunking the popular misconception of a universally meat-heavy prehistoric diet. This groundbreaking discovery forces a re-examination of what ancient humans truly ate, moving beyond simplistic 'caveman' assumptions.

Archaeological findings from Neanderthal dental calculus show that prehistoric humans consumed a variety of plants, including seeds, legumes, and date palms. So, what was the typical breakfast for a cave person? Their first meal wasn't a set routine but a chance-based affair governed by what food was immediately available from hunting or foraging.

Before 3.5 million years ago, early hominins, the ancestors of modern humans, consumed diets consisting almost exclusively of leaves and fruits, much like modern gorillas and chimpanzees. This initial, predominantly plant-based phase is a critical but often forgotten aspect of our dietary evolution, proving that yes, humans did eat leaves, and it was a foundational part of our species' development.