A Major Difference Between Neanderthals and Ancient Humans? Chowing Down on Maggots. |
Get unlimited access to everything VICE has to offer.
Turn off all ads on VICE.com
Exclusive New VICE Documentaries
Member Exclusive Features & Columns
Turn off all ads on VICE.com
Exclusive New VICE Documentaries
Member Exclusive Features & Columns
Turn off all ads on VICE.com
Exclusive New VICE Documentaries
Member Exclusive Features & Columns
4 Magazines Delivered to Your Door
A Major Difference Between Neanderthals and Ancient Humans? Chowing Down on Maggots.
While prehistoric humans mostly avoided insects, Neanderthals were all about them.
Share on X (Opens in new window)X
Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
Share using Native toolsShareCopied to clipboard
We’re living through a golden age of archaeological discovery about our distant cousins, the Neanderthals. We’ve recently learned they were much more intelligent than we used to give them credit for, and culinarily, they were much more into insects than we’ve ever been. Though it probably wasn’t on purpose.
According to a new study published in Science Advances, researchers analyzed ancient DNA trapped in dental plaque from 18 Neanderthals, 745 early modern humans, and 96 great apes, an idea that pairs well with another recent discovery: that Neanderthal dental practices were not only a thing but were also absolutely brutal. The findings suggest that while prehistoric humans in Europe and Central Asia mostly avoided insects, Neanderthals were all about........