Scientists found microscopic plant remains in the tooth plaque of Neanderthals from multiple sites across southern Europe, showing that they ate plants as part of their diet.
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
Neanderthals ate plants like roots and tubers, and tiny pieces of these plants got stuck in the sticky film on their teeth. That film hardened over time into stone-like plaque, locking the plant bits inside their teeth and preserving them for thousands of years.
Most probable mechanism
When Neanderthals ate plants like roots and tubers, tiny hard parts of the plants got stuck in the sticky plaque on their teeth. Over time, this plaque turned to stone, trapping the plant bits and preserving them inside the teeth.
Plant tissues, including starchy underground parts, are chewed and ingested during feeding.
Microscopic plant fragments, such as starch granules and phytoliths, are not fully broken down during mastication and remain in the oral cavity.
These fragments become embedded in dental plaque as it forms and mineralizes over time, becoming trapped within the calculus matrix.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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Dental calculus indicates widespread plant use within the stable Neanderthal dietary niche.
Contradicting (0)
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Gold Standard Evidence Needed
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