Jena, 20.05.2026 – Long before systematic agriculture, plants played an increasingly significant role in human nutrition. This is evidenced by a recent study from the Jena-based Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, based on findings from the rainforests of Sri Lanka.
- Research Institution: Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology (Jena)
- Topic: Changes in human nutrition before the onset of agriculture
- Study Period: Approximately 20,000 to 3,000 years ago
- Publication: Journal „Nature Ecology & Evolution“
- Further Information: Max Planck Institute website
Zinc Isotopes in Tooth Enamel as Witnesses of the Past
For their far-reaching findings, the scientists utilized state-of-the-art analytical methods. Specifically, they examined the tooth enamel of prehistoric humans for zinc isotopes. These chemical signatures store information about the dietary composition of individuals over millennia. The results from the period between 20,000 and 3,000 years ago paint a clear picture: although the hunter-gatherer groups studied remained omnivores, the proportion of plant-based food in their diet increased continuously and significantly.
Gradual Change Instead of Sudden Revolution
Until now, many anthropological models assumed that the transition to an agricultural character was rather abrupt – often associated with the start of active farming. However, the new data from the tropical rainforests of Sri Lanka point to a much slower, step-by-step adaptation process. Hunter-gatherers apparently learned over generations to utilize the plant resources of their environment more intensively and purposefully, long before fields were systematically cultivated.
Background: The Max Planck Institute in Jena and the Archaeology of the Tropics
The Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology in Jena is dedicated to researching the interactions between humans and their environment throughout Earth’s history. Tropical rainforests, such as those examined in the current study in Sri Lanka, are considered archaeologically particularly challenging: due to the warm and humid climate, plant and other organic remains decompose extremely quickly, so that classic finds are often missing. The analysis of stable isotopes in robust tooth enamel allows the researchers from Jena to bypass these climatic hurdles and gain deep insights into prehistoric ecosystems. Such studies contribute significantly to a better understanding of the global change of human societies against the backdrop of early environmental changes.
Source:
Study: Plants played an important role in nutrition early on
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.