Neanderthals diet: 80% meat, 20% vegetables

ScienceDaily ^ | March 14, 2016 | Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum

[SunkenCiv]

Scientists from the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (HEP) in Tübingen have studied the Neanderthals' diet. Based on the isotope composition in the collagen from the prehistoric humans' bones, they were able to show that, while the Neanderthals' diet consisted primarily of large plant eaters such at mammoths and rhinoceroses, it also included vegetarian food. The associated studies were recently published in the scientific journals Journal of Human Evolution and Quaternary International.

The paleo-diet is one of the new trends among nutrition-conscious people -- but what exactly did the meal plan of our extinct ancestors include? "We have taken a detailed look at the Neanderthals' diet," explains Professor Dr. Hervé Bocherens of the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment at the University of Tübingen, and he continues, "In the process, we were able to determine that the extinct relatives of today's humans primarily fed on large herbivorous mammals such as mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses."

The two excavation sites in Belgium that were examined offered the international team of scientists led by the biogeologist from Tübingen a vast array of 45,000 to 40,000 year-old bones of mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, wild horses, reindeer, European bison, cave hyenas, bears and lions as well as the remains of wolves. The immediate vicinity also revealed the bones of several Neanderthals. Based on isotope studies of the collagen in the bones, the researchers were able to demonstrate that the Neanderthals' diet differed markedly from that of other predatory animals. Collagen is an essential organic component of the connective tissue in bones, teeth, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and the skin.

[sparklite2]

It speaks of a short-sighted Creator to me that my dog can make her own vitamin C, but I can’t!

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

[Battle Axe]

All depends on your blood type. Blood type O can eat all the meat but no bread.

Blood type A, only veg. fish.

Check out Peter D’Adamo.

[SamAdams76]

A diet based on meat (including fish, eggs and dairy) is not a bad thing. Toss in some nuts, olive oil, some berries and a few veggies like broccoli, brussels sprouts and hot peppers and you have yourself pretty much the perfect diet. Don't forget the wine.

[LachlanMinnesota]

Spam and mustard sammiches?

[central_va]

Are french fries and ketchup a vegetable?

[SamAdams76]

Are french fries and ketchup a vegetable?

Only if you are younger than say 13. After that, it's time to grow up and eat the big people food!

[Robert A Cook PE]

Vegetarian: Old Indian phrase for “Bad hunter with hungry wife has few kids”

[central_va]

Should I just chew on the raw potatoes and drink the ketchup?

[exDemMom]

Blood type A, only veg. fish.

Yeah, right. Blood type A here, allergic to fish.

Your blood type has nothing to do with what food you should eat.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

They would have preferred a good chocolate cake, but it hadn’t been invented.

[AFreeBird]

You were doing great, right up until broccoli, and everything after it. Well, except the wine.

[EvilCapitalist]

Isn’t that a fruit clinging to the wookie?

[EvilCapitalist]

How about Spam and mustard sammiches with a side of spam? Why do I feel a Monty Python sketch coming on?

[Chuckster]

[rdl6989]

I wonder if they had vegan health nazis saying they will die if they eat red meat?

[clearcarbon]

"Neanderthals diet: 80% meat, 20% vegetables"

If they were around today they might be eating more vegetarians.

[JoeProBono]

[G Larry]

Is that why my knuckles drag?

[LambSlave]

Veggies probably for those who didn’t have teeth