Early Human Ancestors Had Plant-Based Diets, Research Suggests

A major revelation in regards to the dietary habits of early human ancestors suggests a robust reliance on plant-based meals somewhat than meat consumption. Evidence from fossilised tooth of Australopithecus africanus has offered a clearer image of their dietary preferences. These findings, based mostly on the chemical composition of tooth enamel, point out that this early bipedal species, current over 3 million years in the past, could have subsisted largely on vegetation and probably different non-meat sources of power.

Research Analyses Fossilised Enamel for Clues

In line with a study printed in Science, researchers analysed nitrogen-bearing natural materials inside the enamel of fossilised tooth from Australopithecus africanus. A complete of 43 specimens from the Sterkfontein caves in South Africa, together with seven people of the species, had been examined. The nitrogen isotopic ratios current within the samples had been in comparison with these of different extinct mammals from the identical website and to trendy African mammals. These comparisons revealed that the early people’ food plan was variable however lacked a big proportion of mammalian meat.

Implications for Early Human Evolution

As defined by Dr Tina Lüdecke, geochemist on the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, to Science News, the findings present insights into the dietary behaviours of early ancestors. The absence of a meat-rich food plan means that diversifications resembling bipedalism, shorter snouts, and the flexibility to thrive in savanna ecosystems probably preceded the consumption of high-protein meat. These traits are believed to have performed a task in early human survival and ecological success.

Doable Protein Sources Past Meat

Dr Lüdecke additional famous that occasional consumption of meat or energy-rich termites by A. africanus can’t be dominated out. Termites, being a dependable meals supply, might need contributed to their food plan with out influencing the nitrogen isotopic markers considerably. Observations of recent apes fishing for termites reinforce this risk.

This analysis lays the groundwork for future investigations into dietary transitions amongst later human species, doubtlessly shedding extra gentle on the position of food plan in human evolution.