Neanderthals Feasted on Maggots, Revealing New Dietary Insights

New research from Purdue University reveals that Neanderthals had a more varied diet than previously thought, consuming not only large animals but also maggots. This discovery underscores their position at the top of the food chain, similar to apex predators such as lions. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, offer fresh insights into the dietary habits of these ancient hominins.

The study, led by anthropologist Melanie Beasley, utilized chemical analysis of Neanderthal bones to derive information about their diets. Researchers focused on stable nitrogen isotopes, specifically Nitrogen-14 and Nitrogen-15. These isotopes act as dietary markers, with Nitrogen-15 accumulating in higher quantities as one moves up the food chain. Plants contain low levels of Nitrogen-15, while herbivores and carnivores possess higher amounts.

Analysis of Neanderthal bones from various sites across Europe revealed consistently high Nitrogen-15 values, comparable to those of wolves and hyenas. This finding suggested a diet rich in meat, but it presented a puzzle for researchers. Unlike hypercarnivores, Neanderthals and modern humans cannot tolerate extremely high protein levels. Consuming excessive protein can lead to a condition known as “rabbit starvation,” which occurs when the body is overwhelmed by protein intake.

To resolve this discrepancy, Beasley and her team considered other dietary sources that might elevate the nitrogen isotope levels. They noted that some Indigenous tribes in the Arctic and subarctic regions consume maggots found in decomposing meat, prompting the researchers to explore this avenue.

Their investigation revealed that maggots feeding on decaying flesh possess significantly high Nitrogen-15 values, nearly four times greater than that of lions. To validate this hypothesis, the researchers tested fly larvae that were feeding on decomposing human muscle tissue. As muscle breaks down, lighter nitrogen atoms escape as gases, leaving behind heavier isotopes. Maggots that feed on this tissue become enriched in Nitrogen-15, which could account for the elevated isotope levels found in Neanderthal bones.

Further analysis indicated that larvae collected during winter exhibited even higher nitrogen values. This may result from a slower decomposition process in colder temperatures, making winter conditions particularly favorable for maggot growth. The consumption of maggots alongside decaying meat could explain the high nitrogen isotope levels without necessitating a strictly hypercarnivorous diet.

In their conclusion, the research team stated, “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.”

This study not only sheds light on the dietary practices of Neanderthals but also emphasizes the importance of understanding how ancient human relatives adapted to their environments. By recognizing the role of maggots as a food source, researchers can better comprehend the complex interactions between ancient humans and their ecosystems.