A study by Israeli researchers at Bar-Ilan University sheds new light on the diet of early humans.
The research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), focused on the Gesher Benot Ya'aqov archaeological site near the Hula Valley in northern Israel, which is 780.000 years old.
Starch grains were found preserved on basalt tools there, providing direct evidence of plant food processing. The discovery shows that early humans relied on starchy plants as a central part of their diet, challenging the traditional idea that prehistoric foods were primarily meat-based.
Hadar Ahituv, whose doctoral research at Bar-Ilan University underpinned the study, said: “Our findings highlight the central role of starchy plants in the diets of early humans.”
The study identified plant residues such as rhizomes of yellow lilies and extinct water chestnuts on tools such as pots and basalt anvils. This indicates that these tools were used to crush and process plant materials.
Furthermore, the findings suggest that early humans engaged in complex social behaviors, sharing resources and collaborating in food gathering.
I am from South America, where some presidents intend to rewrite history
Regarding this study, it is only worth mentioning that in those years the Palestinians gave us the recipes for preparing these vegetables.
Congratulations.
This is a very surprising fact. Knowing that they found evidence of “human beings” of such ancient origin is spectacular. But certain basic concerns arise, due to the very antiquity of the discovery.