Exploring the dietary habits of early humans before the advent of agriculture has long been a subject of fascination and intrigue.
A recent study sheds light on this ancient mystery, revealing surprising findings about the culinary practices of our prehistoric ancestors. Led by researcher Moubtahij, the study indicates that early humans may have introduced wild plants into the diets of their infants at an earlier stage than previously believed.
The focus of the investigation was the transition from breastfeeding to solid foods in infants, a pivotal milestone in their early development. Breast milk, with its unique isotopic signature, served as a marker distinct from the isotopic composition of solid foods typically consumed by adults.
Through meticulous analysis of the remains of seven individuals, including two infants, researchers compared the chemical composition of infant teeth, formed during the breastfeeding period, with that of bone tissue, reflecting the diet shortly before death.
The results unveiled a surprising revelation: infants were introduced to solid foods as early as 12 months of age, challenging previous assumptions about weaning practices in pre-agricultural societies.
The study, conducted in North Africa, holds particular significance in understanding the evolution and dispersal of Homo sapiens out of Africa. Moubtahij emphasizes the importance of discerning why certain hunter-gatherer groups transitioned to agriculture while others did not.
Such insights, he contends, offer valuable perspectives into the drivers of agricultural innovation and the socio-economic factors that influenced human societies’ decisions to adopt new subsistence strategies.
