George Washington University Researchers Debunk Theory That Neandertals' Extinction Was Caused by Dietary Deficiencies

Scientists Found Evidence of a More Sophisticated Nutrient-Rich Diet Similar to Early Modern Humans

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Researchers from George Washington University and the Smithsonian Institution have discovered evidence to debunk the theory that Neandertals' disappearance was caused in part by a deficient diet – one that lacked variety and was overly reliant on meat.  After discovering starch granules from plant food trapped in the dental calculus on 40-thousand-year-old Neandertal teeth, the scientists believe that Neandertals ate a wide variety of plants and included cooked grains as part of a more sophisticated, diverse diet similar to early modern humans.

"Neandertals are often portrayed as very backwards or primitive," said Amanda Henry, lead researcher from GW.  "Now we are beginning to understand that they had some quite advanced technologies and behaviors."

Dr. Henry made this discovery together with Alison Brooks, professor of anthropology and international affairs at GW, and Dolores Piperno, a GW research professor and senior scientist and curator of archaeobotany and South American archaeology at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C., and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama.  

The discovery of starch granules provides direct evidence that they made sophisticated, thoughtful food choices and ate more nutrient-rich plants, for example date palms, legumes and grains such as barley.  Until now, anthropologists have hypothesized that Neandertals were outlived by early modern humans due in part to the former's primitive, deficient diet, with some scientists arguing Neandertals' diets were specialized for meat-eating.  As such, during major climate swings Neandertals could be outcompeted by early humans who incorporated diverse plant foods available in the local environment into their diets.  

The researchers' discovery suggests otherwise.  The researchers discovered starch granules in dental calculus, which forms when plaque buildup hardens, on the fossilized teeth of Neandertal skeletons excavated from Shanidar Cave in Iraq and Spy Cave in Belgium.  Starch granules are abundant in most human plant foods, but were not known to survive on fossil teeth this old until this study.  The researchers' findings indicate that Neandertals' diets were more similar to those of early humans than originally thought.  The researchers also determined from alterations they observed in the starch granules that Neandertals prepared and cooked starch-rich foods to make them taste better and easier to digest.

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SOURCE George Washington University