> It is much
> easier to
> conceive of grains moving from the status of adjunct
> to staple
> than to imagine them going directly from non-food to
> staple.

I think we can assume that early paleo h-g's exploited
every iota of their environment. And since grains (or
their ancestors) would have been available for part of
the year, it is more than likely they would have been
used in "some" fashion. Let's not forget the other
half of the h-g term, that of the "gatherer".

I am re-reading "Clan of the Cave Bear", and *this*
time I am noting how extremely efficient they had to
be - particularly how thoroughly they must have used
whatever resources were available, regardless of how
insignificant they might be to us. Imagine being able
to identify every potentially edible or medicinal
plant in your immediate surroundings. Or using every
scrap of an animal for food, clothing, tools,
whatever. It's truly mind-boggling to us pampered
modern types :)


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