Ancient Moroccan Hunter-Gatherers: A Surprising Reliance on Plant-Based Diets

A groundbreaking study challenges long-held beliefs about the dietary habits of pre-agricultural societies. An international team of researchers has discovered compelling evidence that ancient hunter-gatherers in Morocco consumed a significant amount of plants alongside meat.

Published in a prestigious scientific journal, the findings shed new light on the complex dietary practices of human groups from 15,000 years ago, during the era of the Iberomaurusian culture. The remains of this culture were found in the Taforalt cave in Morocco.

The research team, comprising scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Géoscience et Environnement Toulouse, and the Institut National des Sciences de l'Archéologie et du Patrimoine, employed a comprehensive multi-isotopic approach. They used innovative techniques such as zinc and strontium isotope analysis in dental enamel to reconstruct the diet of these ancient individuals with remarkable accuracy.

Contrary to the prevailing notion that meat dominated the diet of hunter-gatherers before the advent of agriculture, the isotopic evidence indicates that the Iberomaurusian people had a significant preference for plant-based foods. These foods were mainly Mediterranean species such as acorns, pine nuts, and wild pulses, which were also found among the archaeobotanical remains at the site.

"Our findings not only provide insights into the dietary practices of pre-agricultural human groups, but also highlight the complexity of human subsistence strategies in different regions," said Zineb Moubtahij, the lead author of the study. "Understanding these patterns is crucial to unraveling the broader story of human evolution."

The research team also found evidence that plant foods were part of the diets of infants, possibly serving as weaning products. This suggests that pre-agricultural communities might have had earlier weaning practices than previously thought for hunter-gatherer societies.

This study pioneers the use of zinc isotopes preserved in enamel to determine the diet of ancient African populations, opening the door for further exploration of human dietary patterns and adaptability in different environments across the region. It sheds light on the crucial role North Africa played in human evolution and modern human dispersal.

As the researchers continue to investigate additional Paleolithic sites in the region, they hope to gain a deeper understanding of ancient dietary practices and their implications for human evolution. The study also raises intriguing questions about the lack of agricultural development in North Africa at the beginning of the Holocene, despite the apparent reliance on plant foods by pre-agricultural societies.