"Revising the Hunter-Gatherer Narrative: New Research Unveils Surprising Insights"
New research led by a University of Wyoming archaeologist challenges the traditional hunter-gatherer narrative by revealing that early human diets in the Andes Mountains were primarily plant-based, with 80% of the diet composed of plant matter and 20% meat. The study, published in PLOS ONE, utilized isotope chemistry and statistical modeling to analyze human remains from burial sites in Peru, providing a clearer understanding of early Andean diets and the pathway to agricultural economies. This groundbreaking research suggests that early human economies in at least one part of the world were plant-based, contrary to long-held beliefs about meat-heavy diets.