Neanderthals Ate Maggots: New Study Reveals Surprising Diet

Recent research has unveiled that Neanderthals, long considered apex predators, had an unexpected dietary component: maggots. A study led by anthropologist Melanie Beasley from Purdue University indicates that these ancient humans consumed fly larvae alongside large game like mammoths and bison. The findings highlight a much broader food spectrum for Neanderthals than previously understood.

Using chemical analysis of Neanderthal bones, researchers identified dietary patterns through stable nitrogen isotopes, specifically Nitrogen-14 and Nitrogen-15. These isotopes serve as dietary markers, with Nitrogen-15 accumulating at each trophic level in the food chain. As a result, plants have low levels of Nitrogen-15, herbivores accumulate some from their plant-based diets, and carnivores, such as wolves and hyenas, exhibit the highest concentrations.

The analysis revealed that Neanderthal bones across Europe displayed remarkably high levels of Nitrogen-15, comparable to that of other carnivorous species. This raised a question: if Neanderthals were consuming such high protein diets, how did they avoid the detrimental effects associated with excessive protein intake, such as “rabbit starvation”?

The research team hypothesized that something else must be influencing the high Nitrogen-15 values. They noted that modern Indigenous tribes in the Arctic and subarctic regions consume maggots found in decomposing meat, prompting the scientists to investigate whether maggots could be a significant part of the Neanderthal diet.

In a surprising twist, the study revealed that maggots feeding on decomposing flesh possess exceptionally high Nitrogen-15 levels, nearly four times that of a lion. To confirm this, Beasley and her colleagues examined fly larvae that had fed on decomposing human muscle tissue. Their findings showed that as the flesh decays, lighter nitrogen isotopes escape, leaving the heavier isotopes behind, thus enriching the maggots.

Analysis of larvae collected during winter months showed even higher levels of Nitrogen-15, likely due to the slower decomposition processes in colder temperatures. This evidence supports the theory that Neanderthals consumed maggots in addition to scavenging tainted meat, explaining their elevated nitrogen isotope levels without relying solely on a hypercarnivorous diet.

The research team concluded, “In the particular case considered here of Eurasian Late Pleistocene hominins, we suspect that the high [Nitrogen-15] values reflect routine consumption of stored decomposing fatty animal substrates laced with highly-enriched maggots.” The study was published in the esteemed journal Science Advances.

This significant discovery not only reshapes our understanding of Neanderthal diet but also highlights the adaptability of these ancient humans in utilizing diverse food resources available in their environments. The implications of this research extend beyond understanding Neanderthals, prompting a reevaluation of early human dietary practices and survival strategies.