Scientists studied the bones of an ancient Neandertal person who lived in Spain thousands of years ago to figure out what they ate. By looking at special chemical markers in the bones called calcium and strontium isotopes, researchers discovered that this Neandertal was mostly a meat-eater. The study suggests Neandertals hunted and ate large amounts of meat, and sometimes ate bones too. This research adds new clues to a long-standing mystery about how these ancient humans survived during the ice age, using modern scientific tools that give us a clearer picture than older methods.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Researchers wanted to understand what a Neandertal person ate by examining special chemical signatures in their bones, using new scientific methods that hadn’t been tried before for this purpose.
  • Who participated: The study focused on one Neandertal skeleton found in Gabasa, Spain, that lived during the last ice age. Scientists compared the chemical markers in this ancient bone to modern animals to understand the diet.
  • Key finding: The chemical markers in the Neandertal’s bones showed very low levels of certain elements, which suggests this person ate mostly meat and occasionally bones, making them a ‘hypercarnivore’ (someone who eats almost entirely meat).
  • What it means for you: While this doesn’t directly affect our lives today, it helps us understand how ancient humans adapted and survived in harsh ice age conditions. This knowledge helps us appreciate human evolution and survival abilities. Keep in mind this is based on one individual, so it may not represent all Neandertals.

The Research Details

Scientists examined a single Neandertal skeleton from Spain using two new chemical analysis methods: calcium isotope analysis and stable strontium isotope analysis. These methods work by measuring tiny differences in the weight of atoms in the bone, which vary depending on what the person ate. The researchers compared the chemical signatures from the Neandertal bone to known patterns from modern meat-eating and plant-eating animals to figure out what diet would produce similar signatures.

Previous studies had tried to understand Neandertal diets using other chemical methods, but those older approaches had problems—sometimes the bones were damaged over time, or the comparison animals didn’t live in the same environment. The researchers hoped that using these two new methods together would give a clearer, more reliable picture of what this particular Neandertal ate.

The study is important because it shows that combining multiple scientific approaches can answer questions that single methods cannot fully solve. By using calcium and strontium isotopes alongside information from earlier studies, the researchers could build a more complete understanding of ancient human nutrition.

Understanding what Neandertals ate helps us understand how they survived for over 250,000 years in Europe during ice ages. Scientists have debated whether Neandertals were mainly meat-eaters, plant-eaters, or ate both. This research provides new evidence using modern scientific tools that are more reliable than older methods. The approach also shows that these new chemical analysis methods could be useful for studying other ancient humans and animals.

This study examined one individual Neandertal, which is a limitation—we cannot be certain all Neandertals ate the same way. The researchers were careful to acknowledge that their method cannot completely rule out other possibilities, like milk consumption. The study builds on previous research using different methods, which strengthens the findings. The research was published in a respected scientific journal focused on human evolution, which means experts reviewed it before publication. However, because it’s based on a single skeleton, the results should be seen as one piece of evidence rather than a complete answer.

What the Results Show

The chemical analysis of the Neandertal’s bones showed very low levels of calcium and strontium isotopes. These low levels are the same pattern you see in modern carnivores—animals that eat almost entirely meat. This suggests the Gabasa Neandertal was a ‘hypercarnivore,’ meaning meat made up the vast majority of their diet.

The results also suggest that this Neandertal occasionally ate bones along with the meat. When animals eat bones, it leaves a specific chemical signature, and the researchers found hints of this signature in the Neandertal skeleton. However, the amount of bone consumption appears to have been relatively small compared to the overall meat consumption.

The researchers noted that their method cannot completely rule out one other possibility: that the Neandertal drank milk from other animals. Milk has a chemical signature that could potentially look similar to what they found. However, they consider this less likely than the meat-eating explanation.

The study confirms and strengthens conclusions from earlier research using different chemical methods. Previous studies had suggested Neandertals ate meat, and this new analysis supports that conclusion using an independent method. When multiple different scientific approaches all point to the same answer, it increases confidence in that answer. The research also demonstrates that calcium and strontium isotopes are useful tools for studying ancient diets, which could help scientists understand what other prehistoric humans and animals ate.

Earlier studies of this same Neandertal skeleton used different chemical markers (carbon, oxygen, and zinc isotopes) and also suggested a meat-heavy diet. This new study using calcium and strontium isotopes reaches similar conclusions, which is reassuring. The fact that multiple independent methods all point toward a carnivorous diet makes the evidence stronger. However, some scientists have debated whether all Neandertals ate the same way, so this study of one individual adds to the overall picture but doesn’t settle all debates about Neandertal nutrition.

The biggest limitation is that this study examined only one Neandertal skeleton. We cannot know if this individual’s diet was typical for all Neandertals or if some ate differently. The skeleton is very old, and over thousands of years, chemical changes can occur in bones, which might affect the results. The method also cannot completely distinguish between eating meat and drinking milk, though the researchers believe meat is more likely. Additionally, the comparison animals used in the study lived in different environments than ice age Europe, so the comparison isn’t perfect. Finally, this research cannot tell us about seasonal changes in diet or whether this Neandertal’s eating habits changed over their lifetime.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, we can say with moderate confidence that at least some Neandertals ate primarily meat and were well-adapted hunters. This is one piece of evidence among many that helps us understand ancient human survival. Scientists should continue studying other Neandertal skeletons using these new methods to see if the diet pattern holds across different individuals and locations. The findings suggest these new chemical analysis methods are valuable tools for studying ancient diets.

Anthropologists and archaeologists studying human evolution should pay attention to these findings and consider using these new methods. History and science teachers can use this research to help students understand how scientists learn about the past. General readers interested in human evolution and prehistory will find this fascinating. However, this research does not have direct implications for modern nutrition or health decisions. People should not change their own diets based on what Neandertals ate, as our bodies and environments are very different.

This is historical research about what happened thousands of years ago, so there is no timeline for personal benefits. However, this research may influence how scientists study ancient diets in the future, which could lead to new discoveries over the coming years as more skeletons are analyzed using these methods.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • While this ancient research doesn’t apply to modern nutrition tracking, users interested in evolutionary biology could use an app to track their learning about human evolution by logging articles read, documentaries watched, or museum visits related to prehistoric humans.
  • This research doesn’t suggest any specific dietary changes for modern people. However, it could inspire users to learn more about human evolution by exploring educational content about prehistoric humans and how they adapted to different environments.
  • Users could set a goal to learn about different aspects of human evolution over time, tracking which topics they’ve explored (Neandertal diets, tool use, migration patterns, etc.) to build a comprehensive understanding of how humans evolved.

This research describes what one ancient Neandertal skeleton suggests about diet thousands of years ago and should not be used to make decisions about modern human nutrition or health. The findings are based on a single individual and represent one piece of scientific evidence about prehistoric human behavior. If you have questions about your own diet or nutrition, please consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian. This article is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical or nutritional advice.