The diet of the first Europeans from Atapuerca

Researchers analyzing dental microwear patterns in the earliest European hominins from Atapuerca, Spain, have uncovered evidence that these ancient inhabitants consumed mechanically demanding diets, including hard and brittle foods. This unique buccal microwear pattern, observed in Homo antecessor fossils dating back 1.2 to 0.8 million years, suggests dietary practices adapted to harsh environmental conditions. The study highlights the role of grit-laden food, potentially from butchering processes, in fueling evolutionary changes, such as increased brain size. By comparing these findings with other Lower and Middle Pleistocene populations, the research provides new insights into hominin dietary specialization and its impact on craniofacial biomechanics.

Pérez-Pérez, A., Lozano, M., Romero, A., Martínez, L. M., Galbany, J., Pinilla, B., Estebaranz-Sánchez, F., Bermúdez de Castro, J. M., Carbonell, E., & Arsuaga, J. L. (2017). The diet of the first Europeans from Atapuerca. Scientific Reports, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep43319