Did Neanderthals eat plants?
Dental calculus indicates widespread plant use within the stable Neanderthal dietary niche.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Scientists looked at tiny plant bits stuck in Neanderthal teeth from five different places and found plants were eaten everywhere, not just in warm southern areas.
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
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Evidence Score
A snapshot of a population at a single point in time. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine the direction of cause and effect.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Scientists looked at tiny plant bits stuck in Neanderthal teeth from five different places and found plants were eaten everywhere, not just in warm southern areas.
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 520 / 44
Evidence Score
A snapshot of a population at a single point in time. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine the direction of cause and effect.
Publication
Authors
Power RC, Salazar-García DC, Rubini M, Darlas A, Harvati K, Walker M, Hublin JJ, Henry AG
Related Content
Claims (4)
Between 1.2 million and a few hundred thousand years ago, early human ancestors like Homo and Neanderthals relied mainly on meat and other animal foods for nutrition, while earlier ancestors like Australopithecus ate mostly plants.
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.
Evidence shows that Neanderthals used plants for food or other purposes in all areas where they lived, not just in warmer southern regions, indicating their plant use was widespread.
Neanderthals consumed a relatively consistent mix of plants and animals throughout their history and across different regions, with little change in their food choices over time or location.