Research conducted near the Jordan River in northern Israel has unveiled groundbreaking evidence that early humans depended significantly on plant-based foods for energy. The findings debunk the long-standing myth that prehistoric diets were predominantly meat-based, offering a fresh perspective on early human nutrition.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), examined starch grains found on basalt tools dating back roughly 780,000 years. These tools, discovered at the Gesher Benot Ya’akov archaeological site near the ancient Hula Lake, represent the earliest known evidence of plant processing for food.
Early humans’ diverse plant-based diet
Analysis of starch residues revealed that early humans consumed a wide array of plants, including acorns, cereals, beans, and aquatic species such as the yellow water lily and a now-extinct variety of water chestnut. These carbohydrate-rich foods likely played a crucial role in providing the energy needed to sustain the growing brains of early humans.
“This discovery highlights the importance of plant foods in our ancestors’ evolution,” said Dr. Hadar Ahituv, who led the study during his doctoral research at Bar-Ilan University. “Our findings show that early hominids collected a variety of plants year-round, processing them with basalt tools. This opens a new chapter in understanding early human diets and their strong reliance on plant-based resources.”
Insights from prehistoric settlements
The Gesher Benot Ya’akov site has provided extraordinary insights into prehistoric life. Excavations uncovered over 20 layers of human activity, including fossilized animal remains and plant remnants such as seeds and fruits. Microscopic evidence, such as pollen, rodent hair, and feathers, further corroborates the presence of starch on ancient tools.
Dr. Ahituv, currently based at Haifa University’s Laboratory for Ancient Food Processing Technologies, collaborated with researchers from Bar-Ilan University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Leiden University in the Netherlands. Their work challenges the widespread assumption that meat dominated early human diets, a notion popularized by the “paleo” diet.
Plants as a key energy source for humans
Traditional research has often focused on animal bones, which preserve more readily than plant remains. However, the discovery of starch grains on tools underscores the importance of plant-based foods, particularly tubers, nuts, and roots, as essential energy sources.
The study also sheds light on the cognitive and social behaviors of early humans. Processing plant foods required sophisticated tools and likely involved collaborative efforts within social groups. This adaptability reflects early humans’ understanding of their surroundings, utilizing both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems for survival.