The paleo diet, often romanticized for its focus on hearty meats, is being reconsidered with new research suggesting that Neandertals may have had a more varied diet, significantly relying on maggots found on decomposing carcasses. Traditionally regarded as apex predators, Neandertals were believed to consume large amounts of meat, akin to lions or hyenas. However, a recent study published in Science Advances indicates that the heavy nitrogen isotope (N-15) found in their bones might actually point to a diet rich in parasites like maggots rather than large game meat alone.
Researchers argued that the high levels of N-15 in Neandertal remains were indicative of a carnivorous lifestyle. While nitrogen exists in two stable forms—N-14, which is more prevalent, and N-15, which signifies meat consumption—the proportion of N-15 found in Neandertal bones was similar to that in hyenas. This has spurred a debate about the accuracy of assuming Neandertals were strict carnivores. Biological anthropologist Melanie Beasley emphasizes that humans, unlike specialized carnivores, cannot sustain such high levels of meat consumption without experiencing toxic effects. The human body, lacking necessary balance, can transform protein into energy, resulting in harmful waste products, which pose significant health risks.
The inquiry into what constituted Neandertal diets led researchers like anthropological archaeologist John Speth to consider alternative food sources—namely, the rotting meat that would attract maggots. Collaborating with Beasley, who was already investigating muscle decomposition, they began to assess the nitrogen content in decomposing animal flesh. Over two years of research revealed that maggots, thriving on decaying matter, boasted higher N-15 levels than any analyzed animal tissue. This discovery suggests that maggots themselves could form an essential part of the Neandertal diet.
As decomposition occurs, lighter nitrogen components like N-14 evaporate, shifting the nitrogen balance higher in favor of N-15. This process not only increases the nutritional value of maggots but yields a fatty substance beneficial to those who might consume them. Observations from traditional Indigenous practices indicate that eating both decomposed meat and the insects residing within it can be safe and nutritious. However, the absence of concrete archaeological evidence regarding Neandertals’ consumption of maggots raises questions about the real extent to which this practice was adopted.
Despite skepticism, proponents of the maggot hypothesis argue that it aligns with evolutionary behavior. Archeologist Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo advocates for further studies comparing nitrogen levels in bones of modern groups known to consume decomposed meat. Such investigations could offer compelling support for the idea that maggots were not just secondary items on the menu but potentially played a critical dietary role for Neandertals. In this light, Neandertals’ relationship with their food becomes far more complex than previously thought.
In summary, the selection of maggots beside meat in the Neandertal diet underscores a significant reinterpretation of their eating habits. Rather than simply being blood-thirsty hunters, Neandertals likely adapted a flexible approach to nutrition that helped them survive in diverse environments. This nuanced understanding of prehistoric diets not only paints a more comprehensive view of Neandertal life but also underscores the importance of flexibility and innovation in survival strategies in the context of evolution.
