Neanderthals, hypercarnivores, and maggots: Insights from stable nitrogen isotopes

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Conflicts of Interest

Identified Weaknesses

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Paper Summary

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Maggots: The Secret Ingredient in Neanderthal Haute Cuisine?

This study proposes that the high nitrogen isotope ratios found in Neanderthal remains might be due to consumption of maggots found in stored animal foods, rather than just meat from large mammals. Using experimentally decomposed human tissue, the researchers show that fly larvae feeding on decomposing tissue have significantly higher nitrogen isotope values than the tissue itself, suggesting that even small amounts of maggots in the diet could significantly elevate nitrogen isotope ratios.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified

Identified Weaknesses

Limited experimental design

The study uses human decomposition as a tissue model for Pleistocene fauna, which may not accurately reflect the conditions of food storage and decomposition in that era. The range of decomposition conditions in the experiment may not fully capture the real-world scenarios of cached animal foods.

Unknown factors affecting maggot δ15N

While maggots are shown to have high δ15N values, the study acknowledges the need for further research to understand the factors that influence nitrogen cycling during decomposition, the impact of macronutrient composition, and the variability of δ15N values across larval developmental stages and within decomposition fluid-saturated soils.

Limited quantitative data on maggot consumption

The study relies on ethnohistoric records to support the claim of maggot consumption among foragers. While the records highlight the behavior, they provide little information on quantities consumed and nutritional value, making dietary modeling challenging. Experimental meat caching studies are suggested as a possible future direction.

Reliance on a single isotopic system

The study focuses solely on δ15N values and acknowledges the need to incorporate other isotopic systems, such as zinc and compound-specific δ15N amino acid values, as well as macronutrient analyses, for a more comprehensive understanding of dietary inputs.

Lack of macronutrient data for maggots on decomposed tissues

The study recognizes the lack of data on macronutrient composition of maggots fed on advanced stage decomposed tissues, which could be linked to their δ15N values and affect the interpretation of results. Further research is needed in this area.

Rating Explanation

This study presents a novel and compelling hypothesis challenging conventional interpretations of Neanderthal diets by exploring the potential contribution of maggot consumption to elevated δ15N values. The study design uses human decomposition as an experimental model and includes isotopic analyses of fly larvae alongside associated fauna, providing new data relevant to Late Pleistocene hominin dietary reconstructions. While there are limitations related to the experimental model, sample sizes, and unknown factors influencing δ15N values, the research opens up promising new avenues of investigation and presents a valuable contribution to the field.

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