Ancient ancestors dug potatoes!

A new study using human bone isotope chemistry to model the diets of early Holocene-era humans in the Andean highlands in Peru has found that plant foods, particularly tubers like potatoes, made up a large portion of these foragers' diet. The researchers estimate that plant foods accounted for 70 to 95 percent of their diet, indicating a heavy reliance on gathering rather than hunting for food. This discovery adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that early human populations relied more heavily on plant foods than previously thought.

The study, published in PLoS ONE, sheds light on the dietary habits of ancient ancestors and challenges the notion that early humans were primarily meat-eaters. The researchers argue that plant foods, such as potatoes, were central to early human economies in the Andean highlands. This new evidence provides insight into the evolution of human diets and highlights the importance of plant-based foods in human history.