Archaeological evidence suggests early hominins practiced persistent carnivory 2 million years ago
In short: Researchers analyzing zooarchaeological sites in Kenya found evidence that early hominins were consuming animal meat as early as 2 million years ago. By examining well-preserved remains at Kanjera South, the team identified that Oldowan-era hominins were actively acquiring and processing various carcasses, ranging from small ungulates to large, wildebeest-sized animals.
This finding provides a crucial link to theories regarding human evolution, suggesting that a diet involving animal meat was a sustained foraging adaptation rather than an occasional occurrence. The consistency of these activities across different layers of the site indicates a long-term behavior.
The study relied on the analysis of three large, well-preserved assemblages of animal remains. A primary limitation is that faunal evidence from this period is generally poorly preserved, making these specific sites rare and unique for understanding early hominin behavior.
Why it matters: This discovery supports the idea that a meat-based diet was a key factor in early human evolution.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Ferraro et al. (2013). Earliest Archaeological Evidence of Persistent Hominin Carnivory. PLoS ONE. · cc-by
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