Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/8204
Title: Molar Macrowear Reveals Neanderthal Eco-Geographic Dietary Variation
Contributor(s): Fiorenza, Luca  (author); Benazzi, Stefano (author); Tausch, Jeremy (author); Kullmer, Ottmar (author); Bromage, Timothy (author); Schrenk, Friedemann (author)
Publication Date: 2011
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014769Open Access Link
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/8204
Abstract: Neanderthal diets are reported to be based mainly on the consumption of large and medium sized herbivores, while the exploitation of other food types including plants has also been demonstrated. Though some studies conclude that early Homo sapiens were active hunters, the analyses of faunal assemblages, stone tool technologies and stable isotopic studies indicate that they exploited broader dietary resources than Neanderthals. Whereas previous studies assume taxon-specific dietary specializations, we suggest here that the diet of both Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens is determined by ecological conditions. We analyzed molar wear patterns using occlusal fingerprint analysis derived from optical 3D topometry. Molar macrowear accumulates during the lifespan of an individual and thus reflects diet over long periods. Neanderthal and early Homo sapiens maxillary molar macrowear indicates strong eco-geographic dietary variation independent of taxonomic affinities. Based on comparisons with modern hunter-gatherer populations with known diets, Neanderthals as well as early Homo sapiens show high dietary variability in Mediterranean evergreen habitats but a more restricted diet in upper latitude steppe/coniferous forest environments, suggesting a significant consumption of high protein meat resources.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: PLoS One, 6(3), p. 1-11
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Place of Publication: United States of America
ISSN: 1932-6203
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 210102 Archaeological Science
160102 Biological (Physical) Anthropology
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 970121 Expanding Knowledge in History and Archaeology
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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