The recent discovery of 50,000 - twelvemonth - old human faecal remains in a Spanish cave depict that Neanderthals , in accession to consume centre , ate lots of vegetables . It ’s the best substantiation yet that Neanderthals were omnivore — a diet that forward-looking paleo - feeder will line up very familiar .
Anthropologists have had great difficulty judge to figure out what Neanderthals corrode . It ’s an authoritative question because it may have had a unmediated heading on their eventual extinction . One hypothesis hold that Neanderthals may have died out owe to an exclusively carnivorous diet , while modern humans thrived by adopting a complex diet fertile in animal protein and plant .
Previous archaeological finds reaffirmed the impression that Neanderthals did in fact feed meat ( includingshellfish ) , leading anthropologist to surmise that they were top - level carnivores . A2010 analysisof Neanderthal dentition and scatter botanical evidence did however paint a picture a certain degree of plant - feeding among the Neanderthals , but no “ smoking artillery ” has ever been found to in spades prove an omnivorous diet .

https://gizmodo.com/neanderthals-were-eating-brain-expanding-shellfish-150-5840558
https://gizmodo.com/neanderthals-ate-their-fruits-and-vegetables-5719202
According to paleoanthropologist Ainara Sistiaga and her squad , that smoking gun has now been found — and it ’s a passel of 50,000 - year - former turd .

Chemical Traces
The ancient excrement was found at the El Salt slam in Spain , a Middle Paleolithic land site . It ’s consider the oldest cocksure designation of human faecal matter , significantly predating those find in Egyptian mummies and ancient Hellenic latrines .
The sample , which were found near an ancient campfire , were put through a accelerator pedal chromatograph to separate the item-by-item chemical substance element . Along with good deal spectrometry , the researchers were able to figure out which molecules were present and in what quantities . The recognition of sterol and stanols was fundamental — lipid known to be comparatively stable through food chains and during early digestive processes . What ’s more , the discovery of plant - derived ester in the fecal remains suggested a meaning intake of plants .
Good Paleo Eating
Based on the story of the area , it ’s potential that these particular Neanderthals had a dieting consist of heart , Berry , nuts , and theme vegetable — a list of foods very conversant to those who are currently onthe paleo dieting . Of course , thisdoesn’t needs connote an optimized dieting , but it ’s fair to say their digestive systems , after tenner of thousands of years of evolution , were very well adapted to these especial foods . Make of that what you will .
https://gizmodo.com/why-eating-like-we-did-20-000-years-ago-may-be-the-way-5917339
https://gizmodo.com/why-the-paleo-diet-and-lifestyle-are-not-based-in-scien-493239551

The researchers reason out :
study together , these data evoke that the Neanderthals from El Salt consumed both meat and vegetables , in arrangement with recent hypothesis free-base on collateral evidence . Future subject in Middle Palaeolithic site using the faecal biomarker approaching will help clarify the nature , part and balance of the plant portion in the Neanderthal diet , and allow us to assess whether our results reflect occasional consumption or can be representative of their staple dieting . Also , this data point represent the oldest positive identification of human fecal matter , in a molecular floor , using organic geochemical methods .
Indeed , an of import next whole tone will be to figure out if Neanderthal man from other European locations also consumed plant .

Related : hoi polloi Have suffer From Gluten Intolerance For At Least 2,000 Years
https://gizmodo.com/people-have-suffered-from-gluten-intolerance-for-at-lea-1570255009
take the total work at PLOS | ONE : “ The Neanderthal Meal : A New Perspective Using Faecal Biomarkers “ .

Image : Mauricio Anton / SPL .
anthropologyArchaeologyneanderthalsPaleontologyScience
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