Neanderthals’ cultural practices, similar to those of Indigenous peoples, might be the answer to the mystery of their high δ¹⁵N values. Ancient hominins were butchering, storing, preserving, cooking, and cultivating a variety of items. All these practices enriched their paleo menu with foods in forms that nonhominin carnivores do not consume. Research shows that δ¹⁵N values are higher for cooked foods, putrid muscle tissue from terrestrial and aquatic species, and, with our study, for fly larvae feeding on decaying tissue.
I mean, this makes sense. Other primates eats grubs. But I would never have come up with this theory without someone else suggesting it first.
11 Comments
ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 1y
Note to self: If you ever invent time travel and are invited to have lunch with a neanderthal tribe... politely decline!
Bonesince1997@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Pack a lunch in your time machine.
ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Yup. Just some unwrapped fermented meat sandwiches and a couple of horny flies. What could go wrong?!
swelter_spark@reddthat.com · 5 pts · 1y
It's very interesting that they were able to eat rotting meat without getting sick. I believe some cultures still do. I practice this skill, but eating beef that's a little off still makes my stomach upset.
bigfondue@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 1y
crandlecan@mander.xyz · 1 pts · 1y
Botulism entered the chat...
bigfondue@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
swelter_spark@reddthat.com · 2 pts · 1y
Hmm, very interesting... That explains a lot.
CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social · 4 pts · 1y
I wonder if neanderthals would've liked casu martzu cheese then.
capt_wolf@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y
Jesus, you know that became a thing because one stubborn guy was like, "The cheese went bad??? Fuck it, I'm not losing my money! Get your fly cheese here!"
atticus88th@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
Turns out Arbys has had the Neanderthal menu all along.
Photuris@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 1y
thfi@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 1y
Sounds like gagh.
ChippiChappa@ani.social · 1 pts · 1y
Ohh . . . not the Dutch.