Scientists have unveiled the mystery of 2 million years ago, revealing the profile of the apex predator in forests and grasslands filled with monsters: they carry the bloodline of humans.
More specifically, these are species from the “transitional period”, gradually shedding the appearance and nature of the archaic primates to evolve into true humans. The most advanced species of that time is thought to be Homo erectus – the Upright Man, who knew how to make and use tools but still had a small brain and many features reminiscent of archaic primates.
A change in diet, transitioning from a primarily carnivorous diet of ancient species to a more plant-rich diet of later species. This change was primarily due to adaptation to the living environment – (Photo: American Journal of Physical Anthropology)
This species and its relatives from 2.5 to 2 million years ago had a diet rich in… mammoth and other beasts, being the top predators in the ancient food chain, according to new research from Tel Aviv University in Israel and the University of Minho in Portugal.
They do not resemble our previous image of ancient hunter-gatherers. Unlike the more gentle hunter-gatherer groups that came later, when humans had truly developed shapes and characteristics closer to modernity.
Fossilized skull of an early human species – (Photo: Nature)
According to Dr. Miki Ben-Dor from Tel Aviv University, a member of the research team, this can be explained simply: “The later hunter-gatherer groups, such as our Homo sapiens ancestors, could not access a world filled with beasts like in ancient times, therefore they did not develop into apex predators with a gentler diet. The early Homo sapiens still hunted and ate beasts, but much less.”
In contrast, the group from 2.5 to 2 million years ago primarily consumed beast meat. They lived in a world dominated by the “Great Ice Age”, which caused present-day Europe and North America to be perpetually buried under thick glaciers, according to Science Alert.
The ecosystem across the globe was filled with large roaming creatures, such as mammoths, mastodons, and giant sloths weighing tons… Researchers utilized chemical analyses from bones and dental enamel to find local examples of their diet and confirm the findings.
This remarkable hunting ability helped these “transitional” humans sustain their energy-hungry brains, playing a crucial role in brain development.
Of course, this does not mean that we, modern humans, should consume more meat, as humanity has evolved very far, and each species within the genus Homo has adapted its body to fit dietary regimes suitable for their living environments while ensuring health.
The study was recently published in the scientific journal American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
