Study debunks 'paleo diet' myth of hunter-gatherers

Ancient hunter-gatherers relied heavily on plant foods, particularly starchy plants, as a major energy source contrary to the popular belief that ancient human “paleo” diets were mainly meat-based.

- VISHWAM SANKARAN

The research, published in the journal PNAS, found that human ancestors did not rely solely on animal protein, but consumed a diverse range of plant-based foods, including acorns, cereals, legumes and aquatic plants.

In the study, Israeli scientists assessed starch grains approximately 780,000 years old, uncovered at a settlement located on the shores of the ancient Hula Lake.

Excavations unearthed over 20 layers of settlement, fossilised animal remains, and plant remnants such as seeds and fruits. Scientists found starch grains on ancient basalt maces and anvils used by ancient human ancestors to crack and crush plant foods.

The ability to widely use such tools also offers insights into the social and cognitive behaviours of early humans.