Authors
   Richards MP.
Title
   A brief review of the archaeological evidence for Palaeolithic and
   Neolithic subsistence
Source
   European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 56(12):NIL_12-NIL_20, 2002 Dec.
Abstract
   Knowledge of our ancestor's diets is becoming increasingly important in
evolutionary medicine, as researchers have argued that we have evolved to
specific type of 'Palaeolithic' diet, and many modern nutritional disorders
relate to the mismatch between the diet to which we have evolved, and the
relatively newer agricultural-based 'Neolithic' diets.
   However, what is the archaeological evidence for pre-agricultural diets
and how have they changed over the four million years of hominid
evolution? This paper briefly introduces the three lines of evidence we have
for Palaeolithic and Neolithic diets; morphological changes,
archaeological material evidence, and direct measurement of diet from bone
chemistry. The morphological changes, increasing gracilization of the
mandible and increasing brain size have been interpreted (based on
analogies with living primates) as the move from plants to higher-quality,
more digestible, animal meat, although this is debated. The archaeological
evidence is especially weak, as many organic materials, especially plants,
do not survive well, and are therefore invisible in the archaeological
record. Artefacts, such as stone tools which are likely to be used for
hunting and animal bones with evidence of human processing and butchering do
indicate that hunting did occur at many times in the past, but it is
impossible to judge the frequency. Direct evidence from bone chemistry, such
as the measurement of the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen, do provide
direct evidence of past diet, and limited studies on five Neanderthals from
three sites, as well as a number of modern Palaeolithic and Mesolithic
humans indicates the importance of animal protein in diets.
   There is a significant change in the archaeological record associated with
the introduction of agriculture worldwide, and an associated general decline
in health in some areas. However, there is an rapid increase in population
associated with domestication of plants, so although in some regions
individual health suffers after the Neolithic revolution, as a species
humans have greatly expanded their population worldwide.
   [References: 102]
Institution
   Reprint available from:
   Richards MP
   Univ Bradford, Dept Archaeol Sci
   Bradford BD7 1DP
   W Yorkshire
   England