Not All Prehistoric Humans Loved Meat — Some Were Vegetarians

New research on early humans in the Andes Mountains has redefined ancient diets, highlighting groups that ate more plants instead of meat.

By Jack Knudson
Jan 24, 2024 7:00 PMJan 24, 2024 7:01 PM
ancient human leaving a cave
(Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock)

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A ravenous love for meat has saturated depictions of prehistoric humans for ages, but in a surprising twist, some groups may have embraced mostly plant-based diets.

A new study has raised the argument that humans’ historic hunger for meat might not have been so universal in the ancient world, as evidenced by early humans in the Andes Mountains who ate more plants than meat. 

What Did Early Humans Eat?

For years, archaeologists saw meat as the main course of early human diets. A new study published in PLOS ONE now challenges this belief with recent research that points to prehistoric plant-based diets.

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