Ancient Plant Food Processing Uncovered in Neanderthal Era Italy

A study published in Quaternary Science Reviews reveals new evidence that humans were processing plant foods into flour during the transitional period between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in Italy, pushing back the earliest known evidence of this behavior by several thousand years. The study analyzed ancient grindstones from two Paleolithic sites and found starch granules indicating the use of different plants, including wild cereals. The findings suggest that knowledge of plant food processing was widespread among both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, possibly through cultural traditions or contact between the two groups. This innovation allowed for easier storage and transportation of food for highly mobile Paleolithic foragers.