A study of Australopithecus tooth enamel by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and the University of the Witwatersrand has shown that these ancient hominids had a predominantly plant-based diet and practically did not consume meat. The discovery, published in the journal Science, questions the hypothesis of the key role of carnivory in the evolution of the human brain.
The team of researchers studied the isotopic composition of nitrogen in the tooth enamel of seven Australopithecus found in Sterkfontein Cave in South Africa. As co-author of the study, geochemist Tina Luedeke, explained, "Tooth enamel preserves an isotopic fingerprint of diet over millions of years." Comparison of nitrogen isotopes of Australopithecus specimens with teeth from other animals, such as herbivores, carnivores, and primates, confirmed that their diet was similar to that of herbivores, with no evidence of regular meat consumption.
Although Australopithecus may have occasionally consumed eggs, termites, or other sources of animal protein, the evidence does not indicate regular hunting of large mammals, which only appeared in later species, such as Neanderthals. This discovery changes the view of the early stage of human evolution, where a plant-based diet played a leading role.
The scientists plan to expand their research by analyzing fossils from other regions to determine when meat became part of the diet of human ancestors. The study's findings challenge the popular theory that meat consumption was crucial for the development of large brain structures in humans.