Along the banks of the Jordan River, near northern Israel’s Hula Valley, a fascinating chapter of human history has emerged. Recent research at the 780,000-year-old Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya’akov reveals that early humans relied heavily on starchy plant foods, challenging long-held assumptions about the dominance of animal protein in prehistoric diets.
Beyond the “Paleo” Diet Myth
For decades, popular interpretations of ancient human diets have centered on meat consumption, perpetuated by the so-called “paleo” diet narrative. But the latest study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences1 (PNAS), suggests a more diverse menu, emphasizing the significant role of plants such as acorns, legumes, cereals, and aquatic vegetation.
