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Basalt Tools Found In Israel Show That Hominins Processed Plant Foods 780,000 Years Ago, Challenging Myths About The Paleo Diet
A new archaeological study in northern Israel is changing how we understand the ancestral diet of early humans. Researchers discovered that, contrary to previous beliefs, hominins heavily relied on plant foods, not solely on animal protein.
The discovery was made along the Jordan River, south of the Hula Valley, revealing a varied ancestral diet, with an emphasis on acorns, grains, legumes, and aquatic plants.
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It analyzed starch grains found in basalt tools that are about 780,000 years old. These tools were found in a prehistoric settlement near Gesher Benot Ya’akov.
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The site is already known for its extensive archaeological evidence. There are more than 20 layers of human occupation, along with fossilized animal bones and plant remains such as seeds and fruits.
The research was part of Dr. Hadar Ahituv’s PhD, who worked in the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University.
He currently works at the Laboratory of Ancient Food Processing Technologies (LAFPT) at the Zinman Institute of Archaeology, affiliated with the University of Haifa.
The project involved experts from different institutions. They include Prof. Nira Alperson-Afil and Dr. Yoel Melamed from Bar-Ilan University, Prof. Naama Goren-Inbar from the Hebrew University, and Prof. Amanda Henry from Leiden University in the Netherlands.
Debunking Myths About The Paleo Diet
The research challenges a widely held notion: that early humans primarily lived on meat. This theory served as the basis for the so-called “paleo” diet, which is popular today.
However, many previous studies focused on animal remains because plant foods are rarely preserved over time.
Now, the starch grains found show that hominins consumed carbohydrate-rich plants. These carbohydrates were essential for human brain function. Among the processed foods were tubers, nuts, roots, and other plant varieties.
These plants were prepared with specific tools, such as pestles and anvils made of basalt. These instruments were used to crush and grind the food.
The study highlights that this is one of the earliest pieces of evidence for the use of tools to prepare vegetables. Hominins were capable of handling a wide variety of plants, including yellow water lilies and the extinct water chestnut.
In addition to the starch grains, researchers also found microscopic remains. Pollen grains, rodent hairs, and feathers were identified. These elements strengthen the credibility of the findings.
Plants Were Essential For Human Evolution
“This discovery underscores the importance of plant foods in the evolution of our ancestors,” said Dr. Ahituv. “We now understand that early hominins were collecting a wide variety of plants throughout the year, processing them with tools made of basalt. This discovery opens a new chapter in the study of early human diets and their deep connection to plant-based foods.”
The discovery goes beyond just diet. The use of tools to prepare plants also indicates important social and cognitive aspects.
Hominins worked in groups and showed signs of social organization. They also had a good knowledge of the environment they lived in, both in aquatic and terrestrial regions.
This mastery over natural resources demonstrates adaptive intelligence. Even without written language or agriculture, there was already a level of complexity in human behavior.
The study represents a significant advance in research on ancestral diet. It offers new perspectives on how our ancestors lived and fed themselves. And it shows that plants have always played a fundamental role in human history.
With information from SciTechDaily.
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