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Early human ancestors didn’t regularly eat meat

A meat-rich diet may have not emerged before the evolution of other groups like Homo

A sepia-toned illustration of a group of early humans, or australopithecus, collecting vegetation

Early human ancestors, Australopithecus africanus (illustrated), may have had primarily vegetarian diets, new research suggests.

Raúl Martín/MSF/Science Source

By Jake Buehler

Some of our species’ earliest ancestors may have spent a lot more time eating salad than steak.

An analysis of the chemical composition of fossilized teeth in Australopithecus africanus — an early relative of humans — suggests the bipedal primates had primarily vegetarian diets, researchers report in the Jan. 17 Science.