Neanderthals, hypercarnivores, and maggots: Insights from stable nitrogen isotopes.

Area of Science:

• Paleoanthropology
• Isotope Geochemistry
• Insect Ecology

Background:

• Stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ¹⁵N) in Eurasian Neanderthal diets suggest they were apex predators.
• This interpretation is based on high δ¹⁵N values, placing them at the top of the food web.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential contribution of fly larvae (maggots) to elevated δ¹⁵N values in hominin dietary studies.
• To analyze the δ¹⁵N values of maggots found on decaying carcasses.

Main Methods:

• Collected fly larvae from three families (Calliphoridae, Piophilidae, Stratiomyidae) from putrefying carcasses.
• Performed δ¹⁵N bulk analyses on the collected fly larvae and initial muscle tissue.

Main Results:

• Putrefaction caused minor changes to muscle tissue δ¹⁵N values (-0.6 to 7.7‰).
• Fly larvae associated with putrefaction exhibited significantly higher δ¹⁵N values, ranging from 5.4 to 43.2‰.

Conclusions:

• High δ¹⁵N values in Late Pleistocene hominins may be partly explained by the consumption of maggot-infested stored animal foods.
• This challenges the sole interpretation of high δ¹⁵N as indicating hypercarnivory and suggests a need to consider insect consumption in dietary reconstructions.