Neanderthals Had Maggot-Heavy Diet According to New Study

Recent scientific studies have challenged the long-held belief that Neanderthals were exclusively hypercarnivorous top predators. Research analyzing chemical signatures in their bones suggests that Neanderthals had a more diverse diet, including not only meat but also plant foods and surprisingly, maggots from decaying carcasses. This consumption of fermented and putrid meat with maggots may explain the distinctive nitrogen-15 isotope levels found in their remains, previously thought to indicate a diet comparable to apex predators like lions and wolves. Experts propose that Neanderthals likely stored kills for months, favoring fatty cuts and harvesting maggots as a nutritious supplement, which aligns with ethnographic observations of indigenous diets. This dietary diversity helped Neanderthals avoid protein poisoning, a risk of consuming too much protein without other nutrients, which humans cannot tolerate. These findings expand our understanding of Neanderthal nutrition and their adaptability in prehistoric environments.