Australopithecus at Sterkfontein did not consume substantial mammalian meat

Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 387(6731), P. 309 - 314

Published: Jan. 16, 2025

Incorporation of animal-based foods into early hominin diets has been hypothesized to be a major catalyst many important evolutionary events, including brain expansion. However, direct evidence the onset and evolution animal resource consumption in hominins remains elusive. The nitrogen-15 nitrogen-14 ratio collagen provides trophic information about individuals modern geologically recent ecosystems (<200,000 years ago), but diagenetic loss this organic matter precludes studies greater age. By contrast, nitrogen tooth enamel is preserved for millions years. We report enamel-bound carbonate carbon isotope measurements Sterkfontein Member 4 mammalian fauna, seven Australopithecus specimens. Our results suggest variable plant-based diet (largely C 3 ) these hominins. Therefore, we argue that at did not engage regular meat consumption.

Language: Английский

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Woman the hunter: The archaeological evidence

American Anthropologist, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 126(1), P. 19 - 31

Published: Sept. 4, 2023

Abstract The Paleo‐fantasy of a deep history to sexual division labor, often described as “Man the Hunter and Woman Gatherer,” continues dominate literature. We see it used default hypothesis in anatomical physiological reconstructions past well studies modern people evoking evolutionary explanations. However, idea strict labor Paleolithic is an assumption with little supporting evidence, which reflects failure question how gender roles color our past. Here we present examples support women's hunters challenge oft‐cited interpretations material culture. Such evidence includes stone tool function, diet, art, anatomy paleopathology, burials. By pulling together current state archaeological along human physiology presented accompanying paper (Ocobock Lacy, this issue), argue that not only are women well‐suited endurance activities like hunting, but there they were hunting Paleolithic. Going forward, paleoanthropology should embrace all sexes contributed equally life past, including via activities.

Language: Английский

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Bones and teeth isotopes as archives for palaeoclimatic, palaeoenvironmental and palaeoecological data

Quaternary Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 357, P. 109320 - 109320

Published: April 5, 2025

Language: Английский

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Neanderthal subsistence, taphonomy and chronology at Salzgitter‐Lebenstedt (Germany): a multifaceted analysis of morphologically unidentifiable bone

Journal of Quaternary Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(4), P. 471 - 487

Published: Jan. 26, 2023

ABSTRACT Pleistocene faunal assemblages are often highly fragmented, hindering taxonomic identifications and interpretive potentials. In this paper, we apply four different methodologies to morphologically unidentifiable bone fragments from the Neanderthal open‐air site of Salzgitter‐Lebenstedt (Germany). First, recorded zooarchaeological attributes for all 1362 bones recovered in 1977. Second, applied zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (ZooMS) 761 fragments, calculated glutamine deamidation values. Third, assessed collagen preservation 30 near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and, finally, pretreated 10 with high predicted values radiocarbon dating. All returned dates at, or beyond, limit dating, indicating an age older than 51 000 years ago. The ZooMS spectrum confirms a cold environment, dominated reindeer, alongside mammoth, horse bison. low occurrence carnivore modifications (1%) contrasts abundance human (23%). Cut marks marrow fractures were observed across mammoth remains less well preserved show lower degree modifications, indicating, perhaps, taphonomic history. Overall, study illustrates importance retaining, studying incorporating fraction optimize interpretations formation subsistence behaviour at Palaeolithic sites.

Language: Английский

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The ecology, subsistence and diet of ~45,000-year-old Homo sapiens at Ilsenhöhle in Ranis, Germany

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(3), P. 564 - 577

Published: Jan. 31, 2024

Recent excavations at Ranis (Germany) identified an early dispersal of Homo sapiens into the higher latitudes Europe by 45,000 years ago. Here we integrate results from zooarchaeology, palaeoproteomics, sediment DNA and stable isotopes to characterize ecology, subsistence diet these H. sapiens. We assessed all bone remains (n = 1,754) 2016-2022 through morphology 1,218) or palaeoproteomics (zooarchaeology mass spectrometry 536) species proteome investigation 212)). Dominant taxa include reindeer, cave bear, woolly rhinoceros horse, indicating cold climatic conditions. Numerous carnivore modifications, alongside sparse cut-marked burnt bones, illustrate a predominant use site hibernating bears denning hyaenas, coupled with fluctuating human presence. Faunal diversity high input were further supported ancient mammalian recovered 26 samples. Bulk collagen carbon nitrogen isotope data 52 animal 10 confirm steppe/tundra setting indicate homogenous based on large terrestrial mammals. This lower-density archaeological signature matches other Lincombian-Ranisian-Jerzmanowician sites is best explained expedient visits short duration small, mobile groups pioneer

Language: Английский

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Stable isotopes show Homo sapiens dispersed into cold steppes ~45,000 years ago at Ilsenhöhle in Ranis, Germany

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(3), P. 578 - 588

Published: Jan. 31, 2024

The spread of Homo sapiens into new habitats across Eurasia ~45,000 years ago and the concurrent disappearance Neanderthals represents a critical evolutionary turnover in our species' history. 'Transitional' technocomplexes, such as Lincombian-Ranisian-Jerzmanowician (LRJ), characterize European record during this period but their makers significance have long remained unclear. New evidence from Ilsenhöhle Ranis, Germany, now provides secure connection LRJ to H. remains dated ago, making it one earliest forays species central Europe. Using many stable isotope records climate produced 16 serially sampled equid teeth spanning ~12,500 Upper Palaeolithic human occupation at we review ability early humans adapt different habitat conditions. Results show that cold climates prevailed occupations, with temperature decrease culminating pronounced excursion ~45,000-43,000 cal BP. Directly confirm used site even very phase. Together recent Initial Palaeolithic, demonstrates operated severe conditions distinct dispersals Europe suggests adaptability.

Language: Английский

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Reading children’s teeth to reconstruct life history and the evolution of human cooperation and cognition: The role of dental enamel microstructure and chemistry

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 163, P. 105745 - 105745

Published: May 31, 2024

Studying infants in the past is crucial for understanding evolution of human life history and cooperation, cognition, communication. An infant's growth, health, mortality can provide information about dynamics structure a population, their cultural practices, adaptive capacity community. Skeletal remains one way accessing this humans recovered prior to historical periods. Teeth particular, are retrospective archives that be accessed through morphological, micromorphological, biogeochemical methods. This review discusses how microanatomy formation teeth, particularly enamel, serve as somatic stress, environment. Examining role broader context evolution, we discuss dental biogeochemistry emphasize incremental growth tooth microstructure facilitates reconstruction temporal data related diet, mobility, stress societies. The concludes by considering biomarker potential clinical applications.

Language: Английский

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Isotopic evidence of high reliance on plant food among Later Stone Age hunter-gatherers at Taforalt, Morocco

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(5), P. 1035 - 1045

Published: April 29, 2024

Abstract The transition from hunting-gathering to agriculture stands as one of the most important dietary revolutions in human history. Yet, due a scarcity well-preserved remains Pleistocene sites, little is known about practices pre-agricultural groups. Here we present isotopic evidence pronounced plant reliance among Late Stone Age hunter-gatherers North Africa (15,000–13,000 cal BP), predating advent by several millennia. Employing comprehensive multi-isotopic approach, conducted zinc (δ 66 Zn) and strontium ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) analysis on dental enamel, bulk carbon 13 C) nitrogen 15 N) sulfur 34 S) isotope dentin bone collagen, single amino acid faunal Taforalt (Morocco). Our results unequivocally demonstrate substantial plant-based component diets these hunter-gatherers. This distinct pattern challenges prevailing notion high animal proteins It also raises intriguing questions surrounding absence agricultural development during early Holocene. study underscores importance investigating provides insights into complexities subsistence strategies across different regions.

Language: Английский

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Zinc isotope composition of enameloid, bone and muscle of gilt-head seabreams (Sparus aurata) raised in pisciculture and their relation to diet

Marine Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 171(3)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract The isotope ratios of zinc ( 66 Zn/ 64 Zn expressed as δ Zn), a vital nutrient, increasingly demonstrate trophic discrimination among vertebrates, making valuable dietary proxy for ecological, archaeological, and palaeontological studies. Given the novelty methodology, tissue-diet tissue-tissue fractionation factors remain poorly understood have so far only been studied in few terrestrial mammals. Here, we investigate compositions enameloid, bone, white muscle seven artificially-fed pisciculture gilt-head seabreams Sparus aurata ) from offshore Israel, comparison to composition their diet. In addition, also analysed values same tissues wild-caught S. , bluespotted seabream Pagrus caeruleostictus grey triggerfish Balistes capriscus caught off coast Israel. We determine offset − 0.04 ± 0.09 ‰ (2SD) 0.29 0.06 0.45 0.07 muscle. Wild-caught fish much higher among-individual variability with distinct documenting more isotopically heterogeneous diet consumed by wild individuals. Still, tissue–tissue differences individuals are close those observed ones progressively lower order bone > enameloid Our results predictable hard soft can be applied identify input, thereby informing (palaeo)ecological reconstructions.

Language: Английский

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Carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen stable isotopes in modern tooth enamel: A case study from Gorongosa National Park, central Mozambique

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Nov. 24, 2022

The analyses of the stable isotope ratios carbon (δ 13 C), nitrogen 15 N), and oxygen 18 O) in animal tissues are powerful tools for reconstructing feeding behavior individual animals characterizing trophic interactions food webs. Of these biomaterials, tooth enamel is hardest, most mineralized vertebrate tissue therefore least likely to be affected by chemical alteration (i.e., its isotopic composition can preserved over millions years), making it an important widely available archive biologists paleontologists. Here, we present first combined measurements δ C, N, O from teeth modern fauna (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores) well-studied ecosystem Gorongosa National Park (GNP) central Mozambique. We use two novel methods produce high-precision data: (i) “ oxidation-denitrification method,” which permits measurement mineral-bound organic N ), until now, has not been possible due enamel’s low content, (ii) cold trap method ,” greatly reduces sample size required traditional inorganic C (from ≥0.5 ≤0.1 mg), permitting analysis small or valuable high-resolution serial sampling enamel. results GNP reveal ecological information about level, dietary niche, resource consumption. values clearly differentiate level carnivore 4.0‰ higher, on average, than herbivores), distinguish 3 and/or 4 biomass consumption, reflect local meteoric water ) park. Analysis carbon, nitrogen, data geochemical separation grazers, browsers, omnivores, carnivores according their while mixed-feeding herbivores cannot distinguished other groups. These confirm that a single aliquot used reconstruct diet niches. Given resistance alteration, three isotopes high potential open new avenues research (paleo)ecology paleontology.

Language: Английский

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