If you’ve ever heard about the Paleo diet, you probably know that it’s all about eating like our ancestors did thousands of years ago. But a recent study has called into question the basis of this popular diet, leaving many people wondering.
The Harvard School Of Public Health decided to investigate how our ancestors actually ate. They looked at the tools they used and concluded that our ancestors weren’t advanced enough to cultivate plants. So, they believed that their diet consisted mainly of meat, fish, and other sources of protein.
However, a new study published in the Nature Ecology & Evolution Journal reveals that our prehistoric ancestors may have actually had a more plant-based diet during the late Stone Age.
The study focused on a burial site in Morocco, one of the oldest in North America. Scientists analyzed the remains and chemical signatures from the Paleolithic era using teeth and bones, as well as a method called stable isotope analysis.
This analysis examined the nitrogen levels in the tooth enamel and found that meat was not the primary source of protein during that time. Instead, our ancestors obtained the majority of their protein from sources like acorns and pine nuts, which were a significant part of their diet.
The lead author of the study stated, “Our analysis showed that these hunter-gatherer groups included an important amount of plant matter in their diet, which changed our understanding of the diet of pre-agricultural populations.”
Additionally, researchers discovered evidence in cave burials that suggested the consumption of starchy plants like corn and beets.
What’s even more fascinating is that the population at that time had already developed ways to cultivate plants and harvest crops before the agricultural revolution. They even engaged in plain cultivation, intentionally planting and harvesting wild cereals.
In conclusion, this study emphasizes the importance of our ancestors’ reliance on plants for their diet, with a lower proportion of animal resources compared to other Upper Palaeolithic sites.
Further research will be carried out to delve deeper into this intriguing finding.
