Newswise — A team of researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Cambridge has found the first direct evidence that Neanderthals ate plants.

The study, published in the journal Nature, analyzed dental calculus from Neanderthal teeth found at two sites in Croatia and Belgium. Dental calculus is a hard, calcified deposit that forms on teeth and can preserve evidence of what people ate.

The researchers used a variety of techniques to analyze the dental calculus, including DNA sequencing, stable isotope analysis, and microscopic analysis. They found that the Neanderthals had eaten a variety of plants, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

This study provides the first direct evidence that Neanderthals ate plants. It is also the first evidence that Neanderthals ate a variety of plants, suggesting that they had a more diverse diet than previously thought.

What does this study tell us about Neanderthal diet?

This study provides the first direct evidence that Neanderthals ate plants. It also provides evidence that Neanderthals ate a variety of plants, suggesting that they had a more diverse diet than previously thought.

What are the implications of this study for our understanding of Neanderthals?

This study has several implications for our understanding of Neanderthals. First, it suggests that Neanderthals were not purely carnivorous, as previously thought. Second, it suggests that Neanderthals had a more diverse diet than previously thought. Third, it suggests that Neanderthals may have had a more sophisticated understanding of food and nutrition than previously thought.

What further research is needed?

Further research is needed to better understand the Neanderthal diet. This research could include studies of dental calculus from other Neanderthal sites, as well as studies of other Neanderthal remains, such as bones and coprolites (fossilized feces).