Scientists studied the worn teeth of ancient humans who lived during one of Earth’s coldest periods, around 430,000 years ago, in a cave in Spain. By examining scratch and wear patterns on their molars, researchers discovered that these early humans ate a balanced mix of meat and plants—not just meat as you might expect from people living in harsh, frozen conditions. This finding suggests that even during the Ice Age, these humans had access to a variety of foods and lived in areas with diverse plants and animals, which helped them survive in challenging times.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How ancient human teeth wear patterns can tell us what foods people ate thousands of years ago, specifically looking at a population that lived during an extremely cold Ice Age period.
  • Who participated: Ancient humans (called hominins) who lived at a cave site called Sima de los Huesos in Spain approximately 430,000 years ago during one of Earth’s coldest climate periods.
  • Key finding: The wear patterns on their teeth showed these ancient people ate roughly equal amounts of meat and plant foods, suggesting they had a varied diet despite living in very cold conditions.
  • What it means for you: This research helps us understand how humans adapted and survived during extreme climate conditions by being flexible eaters. It shows that even in harsh environments, diverse food sources were available and important for survival. However, this is ancient history research, so it doesn’t directly change what modern people should eat today.

The Research Details

Researchers examined teeth from ancient humans preserved at an archaeological site in Spain. They used a special technique called ‘occlusal fingerprint analysis,’ which is like taking a detailed picture of the wear patterns on tooth surfaces. These patterns—tiny scratches and worn areas—act like a record of what foods a person ate during their lifetime. Different foods create different wear patterns: tough plant fibers create certain scratches, while meat and bone create different ones. By studying these patterns under magnification, scientists can figure out what proportion of someone’s diet came from plants versus meat.

Because the actual site didn’t have many preserved bones, plants, or stone tools to study directly, the researchers also looked at evidence from nearby archaeological sites to understand what foods would have been available in the area during that time period. They combined the tooth wear evidence with climate records, pollen samples (which show what plants grew there), and animal bone evidence from nearby locations to paint a complete picture.

This research method is important because teeth are one of the most durable parts of the human body and survive thousands of years in the ground. When other evidence about diet—like food remains or cooking tools—is scarce or missing, teeth can tell the story of what people ate. Understanding ancient diets helps scientists figure out how humans survived in different environments and adapted to climate changes, which is relevant to understanding human resilience.

The study uses a well-established scientific method (occlusal fingerprint analysis) that has been tested and used by other researchers. The findings are supported by multiple types of evidence from the region (climate data, pollen records, and animal remains), which strengthens the conclusions. However, the study relies partly on data from nearby sites rather than the exact location, which means some assumptions were made. The specific number of teeth examined wasn’t clearly stated in the available information, which makes it harder to assess how representative the sample is.

What the Results Show

The tooth wear analysis revealed that the ancient humans at this site ate a mixed diet with roughly equal proportions of meat and plant foods. This was somewhat surprising to researchers because the time period—called Marine Isotope Stage 12—was one of the coldest periods in Earth’s history, similar to the harshest Ice Age conditions. Scientists initially expected that people living in such extreme cold would rely primarily on hunting meat, since plants would be scarce.

Instead, the evidence suggests these ancient people had access to a diverse landscape with both animals to hunt and plants to gather. The tooth wear patterns showed clear evidence of both types of food being eaten regularly, not just occasionally. This indicates that the diet was intentionally balanced, not just what was available by chance.

The research also provides insight into the local environment during this time period. By combining the dietary evidence with pollen records and animal bone findings from nearby sites, scientists concluded that the area around the cave was not a barren, frozen wasteland. Instead, it appears to have been a mixed landscape with patches of different plant communities and various animal species. This environmental diversity would have been crucial for human survival during such a cold period, as it provided multiple food sources.

This finding adds nuance to our understanding of how ancient humans adapted to Ice Age conditions. Previous research suggested that during the coldest periods, humans either migrated to warmer areas or relied heavily on hunting. This study suggests a third possibility: that even in very cold climates, humans could survive by being flexible eaters and taking advantage of whatever diverse food sources were available locally. The results align with other recent research showing that ancient humans were more adaptable than previously thought.

The study has several limitations that readers should understand. First, the exact number of teeth examined wasn’t specified, so we don’t know how large the sample was or how representative it might be of the entire population. Second, the researchers had to rely on data from nearby archaeological sites rather than the exact location, which means some assumptions were made about local conditions. Third, tooth wear patterns can be influenced by factors other than diet—like how hard someone chews or the texture of food—so the analysis provides a general picture rather than precise percentages. Finally, this research focuses on one specific population at one location, so the findings may not apply to other ancient human groups living in different places or times.

The Bottom Line

This is primarily historical and scientific research rather than practical health advice. However, it suggests that human survival depends on dietary flexibility and access to diverse food sources. For modern people, this might reinforce the general nutritional principle that eating a variety of foods—both plant-based and animal-based—supports good health. Confidence level: This is an interesting historical finding, but it shouldn’t be used to make specific dietary choices for today.

This research is most relevant to archaeologists, anthropologists, and scientists studying human evolution and adaptation. It’s also interesting for anyone curious about how ancient humans lived and survived. It’s NOT meant to guide modern dietary choices or medical decisions. People with specific dietary questions should consult with nutritionists or doctors rather than relying on ancient diet research.

This is historical research about events that occurred 430,000 years ago, so there is no timeline for modern health benefits. The research helps us understand the past, not predict the future.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • While this ancient research doesn’t directly apply to modern tracking, users interested in evolutionary nutrition could track their own diet variety by logging the number of different plant and animal food sources consumed daily, aiming for balanced intake of both categories.
  • Users could experiment with eating a diverse range of both plant-based foods (vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes) and animal-based foods (meat, fish, dairy) at each meal, inspired by the ancient humans’ balanced approach to nutrition.
  • Track weekly food variety scores by counting unique food types consumed from both plant and animal categories, noting energy levels and overall wellbeing to observe personal patterns in how dietary diversity affects how you feel.

This research describes the dietary patterns of ancient humans who lived 430,000 years ago and should not be used to make decisions about modern nutrition or health. The findings are based on archaeological analysis of fossilized teeth and represent one specific population at one location in time. Modern dietary choices should be based on current nutritional science and guidance from qualified healthcare providers or registered dietitians. If you have questions about your own diet or health, please consult with a medical professional.