Early Humans in Andes Had Predominantly Plant-Based Diet, Study Finds

Research Challenges Prevailing Beliefs About Early Human Diets, Suggests Greater Dietary Diversity

New research led by the University of Wyoming has found that early humans living in the Andes Mountains 9,000 to 6,500 years ago had a diet that was 80% plant-based and only 20% meat-based.
The study challenges the widely held belief that early human diets were predominantly meat-based, a notion that has influenced modern dietary trends such as the paleo diet.
Researchers analyzed the isotopic composition of the remains of 24 individuals from two ancient burial sites in Peru, revealing that plant foods made up the majority of their diets.
Additional evidence from burnt plant remains and dental wear patterns suggest that tubers, such as potatoes, were a key part of their diet.
The findings suggest that there is more diversity in early human diets than previously thought, and that archaeological biases may have led to an overemphasis on hunting in the interpretation of early human economies.