Discoveries from a group of late Stone Age hunter-gatherers in northeastern Morocco reveal a surprising twist – they primarily consumed a plant-based diet. Despite their reliance on local wild plants like acorns and pistachios, these Iberomaurusians never took up farming these crops. This challenges the traditional belief that heavy plant consumption leads to domestication. The site, known as Taforalt, offers valuable insights into human evolution and behavior during this era, making it a crucial area for study according to archaeologist Zineb Moubtahij from France.
The Iberomaurusians inhabited this region around 23,000 years ago, using part of the cave at Taforalt for burial purposes. By analyzing teeth and bones dating back 15,077 to 13,892 years, researchers determined the group’s diet through isotope analysis. Comparing these results with herbivores and carnivores from the site, such as sheep and foxes, revealed that the Iberomaurusians’ diet leaned heavily towards plants over meat, although they still consumed some animal products. This unique dietary pattern sets them apart from other hunter-gatherer groups of the time.
2024-04-29 10:00:00
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