Ancient gastronomy from mammoths to muesli

People visit exhibits inside the Smithsonian Hall of Human Origins, Thursday, July 20, 2023, at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP

We may have an image of our ancient human ancestors as they prowled the prehistoric plains with spears to bring down Dire wolves, Mastodons, and Saber-toothed tigers for dinner.

But a study published this week in the “Nature Ecology & Evolution” journal has used new techniques to analyze the bones and teeth of seven different humans who were part of the Iberomaurusian people, who lived between 13,000 and 15,000 years ago in what’s now Morocco. Scientists believe these humans who preceded us ate a diet of charred sweet acorns, pine and pistachio nuts, wild oats, and wild peas.

That could be on the menu right now of a high-end We may have an image of our ancient human ancestors as they prowled the prehistoric plains with spears to bring down dire wolves, mastodons, and saber-toothed tigers for dinner.

But a study published this week in the Nature Ecology & Evolution Journal has used new techniques to analyze the bones and teeth of 7 different humans who were part of the Iberomaurusian <> people, who lived between 13,000 and 15,000 years ago in what’s now Morocco. Scientists believe these humans who preceded us ate a diet of charred sweet acorns, pine and pistachio nuts, wild oats, and wild peas.

That could be on the menu right now of a high-end Vegan restaurant in Santa Monica.

This finding follows other recent studies showing that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens didn’t just spear, slaughter, and devour wooly mammoths. They patiently soaked and ground beans, lentils, and wild mustard for their meals.

What will we learn next…