Scientists Just Discovered When Humans Started Eating Meat – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries Channel
What if everything we thought we knew about early human diets was wrong? Ancient fossil teeth have revealed a shocking truth about when our ancestors really started eating meat—and the answer isn’t what you expect.For decades, scientists have tried to pinpoint when early human ancestors transitioned from a plant-based diet to regular meat consumption. This shift is believed to have played a crucial role in brain development and evolution. Thanks to a groundbreaking study analyzing fossilized tooth enamel, researchers are now closer than ever to answering this fundamental question.It has long been established that early hominins, including the Australopithecus genus, relied heavily on plants. Their teeth, jaws, and digestive systems were well-adapted to consuming a variety of fruits, leaves, and other vegetation. However, researchers have struggled to determine exactly when meat became a regular part of their diet.The Sterkfontein Caves in South Africa, one of the richest fossil sites for early human ancestors, provided an opportunity to explore this mystery. Scientists analyzed fossilized tooth enamel from Australopithecus specimens dating back 3.4 million years. By examining nitrogen isotopes, which indicate an animal’s position in the food chain, they aimed to determine whether these hominins consumed the nutrient-rich flesh.Nitrogen has two stable isotopes: nitrogen-14 (¹⁴N) and nitrogen-15 (¹⁵N). In food chains, nitrogen isotopes become enriched as one moves higher up the chain—predators have a higher ratio of ¹⁵N compared to herbivores. This method has been successfully used in marine microfossils, but applying it to fossilized tooth enamel was a novel approach.After years of testing on modern and fossilized animal teeth, researchers confirmed that the method could reliably distinguish between herbivores and carnivores. When applied to Australopithecus molars, the results were clear: their nitrogen isotope levels were similar to those of herbivores. This suggests they were not consuming meat regularly, if at all.The findings indicate that Australopithecus primarily ate plants, with possible occasional consumption of insects or eggs. There is no strong evidence that they hunted or scavenged meat in significant quantities. This raises the question: when did hominins transition to a meat-rich diet?The answer lies with the emergence of the Homo genus around 2 million years ago. Fossil evidence from this period shows a marked increase in stone tool use, particularly for butchering animal carcasses. Also, cut marks on fossilized bones confirm that early humans were actively processing meat.Regular meat consumption likely coincided with major evolutionary leaps, including increased brain size and social complexity. Meat provided dense calories, essential amino acids, and key nutrients, allowing for more energy-efficient digestion compared to fibrous plant material. This may have freed up metabolic resources, enabling the development of a larger, more complex brain.The transition to regular meat consumption was more than just a dietary shift—it played a crucial role in shaping human evolution. Early hominins who incorporated meat into their diet gained a significant advantage: higher energy intake with less effort. Unlike plant-based foods, which require long digestion and extensive chewing, meat provided a concentrated source of calories and essential nutrients, fueling brain growth and physical development.The article fails to mention the other important factor in meat-eating: hunting. We had to become hunters with all related social and mental aspects. We are hunters.Comment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/03/when-humans-started-eating-meat/
