Neanderthal isotopic data may reflect a diet that included stored animal carcasses infested with maggots, because these maggots provided both high-protein and high-fat nutrients, helping hominins...

We analyzed one assertion about Neanderthal diet and isotopic signals, and it suggests their nitrogen isotope patterns might reflect consumption of maggot-infested stored meat. The idea is that maggots, as protein- and fat-rich organisms, could have helped Neanderthals avoid the risks of eating too much lean meat alone, which can cause protein poisoning. This interpretation is based on how isotopes in their bones may mirror the nutritional value of decomposing carcasses rather than fresh muscle tissue. We found no studies that challenge this idea, but we also have only one assertion to work with — not a broad set of studies or direct fossil evidence of maggots in Neanderthal food remains. What we’ve found so far leans toward the possibility that stored, insect-infested meat played a role in their diet, but this remains a hypothesis tied to indirect chemical signals, not physical remains or tools. We don’t know how often this occurred, or if it was common or rare. It’s also unclear whether the isotopic patterns could have other explanations, like seasonal shifts in prey or different hunting strategies. Without more data, we can’t say this was a regular practice, but the one claim we reviewed doesn’t contradict it. For now, this idea remains a plausible, though unproven, way to explain part of their nutritional strategy. If you’re curious about ancient diets, remember that survival often meant using every available resource — even ones we find unusual today.