Carnivory appeared earlier than Homo erectus: new data from anthropologists.

New data on the carnivory of hominids

According to ТСН: It was previously believed that representatives of the genus Homo, particularly Homo erectus, became active carnivores. This view was based on the coincidence of the appearance of H. erectus in fossils with a large number of animal bones showing signs of processing, found in sites that are about two million years old, such as the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. At that time, the idea arose that the shift to a meat diet contributed to brain development and the formation of human traits.

However, new research offers a different perspective on this issue. A systematic analysis of all known ancient meat processing sites in East Africa showed that hominids interacted with meat at least 2.6 million years ago. This suggests that carnivory appeared before H. erectus and was not exclusive to this species. Scientists point to a possible error in previous archaeological research: the focus on sites where H. erectus was expected to be found may have created a misleading impression that it was the one that initiated carnivory.

New findings confirm an earlier story of hominid nutrition. For example, in Kenya, evidence of regular meat consumption was found at the Kanjera South site about two million years ago. In the Bourari formation in Ethiopia, antelope and horse bones with cut marks dating back 2.5 million years were discovered. Also in Kenya, at the Nyanyanga site, hominids processed the carcasses of hippos from three to 2.6 million years ago. Although it is difficult to determine the exact species doing this, researchers believe that these could be not the direct ancestors of Homo, but other branches of the evolutionary tree.

In the context of these new facts, the hypothesis that meat was the decisive factor in brain growth appears less convincing. Carnivory was part of a broader dietary strategy of hominids, rather than a simple evolutionary step. According to anthropologist John Hawks, 'almost no hominid species ignored available animal prey.'

Modern scientists have concluded that the shift to a meat diet was complex and prolonged, and that various hominids used meat as an additional source of energy much earlier than previously thought. This indicates that such behavior was the norm of early hominid adaptation, not an isolated case.

It is worth noting that it was previously reported that the wealthy of Madagascar eat tens of thousands of lemurs each year, whose meat has become a symbol of high status.

These new research results could significantly change our understanding of the evolutionary history of humanity. They indicate that carnivory did not arise solely within the genus Homo, but was a component of the accelerated adaptation of many hominids to the environment. Such findings highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach to studying the history of our development and nutrition.