Research suggests that early human ancestors primarily consumed plant-based diets
Recent research on the dietary habits of early human ancestors has shed light on their preference for plant-based foods over meat consumption. The study, published in Science, analysed fossilised teeth of Australopithecus africanus to determine their dietary patterns. The findings suggest that this early bipedal species, dating back over 3 million years, likely relied heavily on vegetation and other non-meat sources of energy.
### Study Analyses Fossilised Teeth for Clues
The researchers examined 43 specimens from the Sterkfontein caves in South Africa, including teeth from seven individuals of Australopithecus africanus. By analysing the nitrogen isotopic ratios in the tooth enamel, they compared the results to those of other extinct mammals from the same site and modern African mammals. The results indicated that while the diet of early humans was diverse, it did not include a significant amount of mammalian meat.
### Implications for Early Human Evolution
Dr Tina Lüdecke, a geochemist at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, explained that these findings offer valuable insights into the dietary behaviors of early ancestors. The absence of a meat-rich diet suggests that adaptations like bipedalism and the ability to thrive in savanna ecosystems likely preceded the consumption of high-protein meat. These traits are believed to have contributed to early human survival and ecological success.
### Possible Protein Sources Beyond Meat
While the study suggests that A. africanus primarily consumed plant-based foods, Dr Lüdecke mentioned that occasional consumption of meat or energy-rich termites cannot be ruled out. Termites, being a reliable food source, may have been part of their diet without significantly affecting the nitrogen isotopic markers. Observations of modern apes fishing for termites support this possibility.
### Future Research and Evolutionary Insights
This research sets the stage for further investigations into dietary transitions among later human species. By understanding the role of diet in human evolution, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how dietary habits influenced the development of early humans. Further studies may reveal additional details about the evolution of human diet and its impact on our species’ survival and adaptation over time.