September 2009 PMID 19706482

Out of Africa: modern human origins special feature: isotopic evidence for the diets of European Neanderthals and early modern humans.

Michael P Richards, Erik Trinkaus

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Mentions

124
Peak: 5 in Nov 2023
across 4 sources since Jun 2019

Extended reach

152,058
potential audience

Total likes

167

Video views

5,951

Mentions per month

Jun 2019 – Jun 2025

Where it's discussed

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions showcase a consensus emphasizing the strength of isotopic evidence indicating humans' hypercarnivorous history, with examples like references to stable isotope studies and mentions that bone analyses reveal high levels of marine and terrestrial meat consumption. The tone is analytical and assertive, clearly reflecting an understanding and acceptance of the research findings' importance in shaping views on human evolutionary diets.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions agree strongly with the article's conclusion that early humans and Neanderthals were primarily carnivorous, citing isotopic evidence and references to multiple studies.

InterestHigh interest

The posts show high interest as participants delve into detailed evidence, mention specific isotopic analyses, and debate dietary implications, reflecting active engagement.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many posts reference scientific methods, studies, and comparisons, indicating deep engagement with the research findings and their broader implications.

ImpactHigh impact

The discussions challenge popular perceptions of human diet history, emphasizing the significance of isotopic evidence and influencing ongoing debates about human evolution and dietary evolution.

Abstract in brief

  • Neanderthals in Europe primarily relied on large herbivores for their diet, acting as top-level carnivores over a long period ranging from about 120,000 to 37,000 years ago.
  • Early modern humans in Europe showed more diverse diets, including aquatic resources like freshwater and marine foods, indicating broader dietary habits around 40,000 to 27,000 years ago.
  • The discovery of Oase 1, the oldest directly dated modern human in Europe, suggests a possible dietary shift, with evidence pointing to freshwater fish consumption, which may reflect changes in population dynamics between Neanderthals and modern humans.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
LiorLefineder
@lefineder · X

"Isotopic evidence for the diets of European Neanderthals and early modern humans" https://t.co/i6XF2seb2e

Sep 23, 2024 · 14 likes · 29,104 followers View post →
Raphael Sirtoli
@raphaels7 · X

Humans are HYPERCARNIVORES @CharlesMBrenner, defined as ≥70% calories from animals https://t.co/Zw3edFXtXJ strongest single piece of evidence is from stable isotope analyses https://t.co/iMjOIr3IeF consilience amongst all lines of evidence (anatomy, genetics, archeology etc..) https://t.co/QL8hKzhi3X

Jun 7, 2025 · 4 likes · 1 share · 8,595 followers View post →
Steven
@professionaldog · X

@Race__Realist @AsarCadyn @carniyogi @beeaannZzZ @FoodFirst_Ty @GladstoneB81859 @nypost There's no way you can say humans were carnivorous. Firstly they show isotope levels higher than carnivores, for various reasons, and (as shown below) "low protein foods are invisible to this technique " https://t.co/6YcNMEgS0k https://t.co/nQWONGC46R

Oct 1, 2023 · 3 likes · 691 followers View post →
Raphael Sirtoli
@raphaels7 · X

@ruimm this should work https://t.co/NdLgPTh41b

Oct 2, 2024 · 2 likes · 8,595 followers View post →
AKA_Sadrien
@AKA_Sadrien · X

@DanSnowden @ZeroCarbSarah @VutopiaWellness @Zeteite @drjkahn @SBakerMD https://t.co/JJv3FFdGxv Isotope analysis indicates that humans have been hypercarnivores for over 100,000 years. You are the evolution equivalent of a flat earther.

Jun 29, 2019 · 2 likes · 789 followers View post →
Rick The-V
@RickTheV1 · X

@InTheMeatrix @TheCarnivoreLaw This is the research his table is adapted from. It even concedes that analysis on & comparisons to other populations in other areas (Russia & China) hasn't been done yet... https://t.co/sZ3h8KixzI

Mar 18, 2023 · 2 likes · 591 followers View post →

All mentions

Tony Scott
@DIY_Tardis · X

RT @raphaels7: Humans are HYPERCARNIVORES @CharlesMBrenner, defined as ≥70% calories from animals https://t.co/Zw3edFXtXJ strongest single…

Jun 7, 2025 · 1 share · 1,749 followers View post →
Raphael Sirtoli
@raphaels7 · X

Humans are HYPERCARNIVORES @CharlesMBrenner, defined as ≥70% calories from animals https://t.co/Zw3edFXtXJ strongest single piece of evidence is from stable isotope analyses https://t.co/iMjOIr3IeF consilience amongst all lines of evidence (anatomy, genetics, archeology etc..) https://t.co/QL8hKzhi3X

Jun 7, 2025 · 4 likes · 1 share · 8,595 followers View post →
Gustavo Baratta
@gusbaratta · X

@AurelianoStingi https://t.co/OdbXKEWqnC

Mar 12, 2025 · 1 like · 15,616 followers View post →
Nick Morpeth
@NMorpeth60004 · X

@richcollins @DrEenfeldt Remembering the exact title of the article can be key, so my apologies if it’s not exact. Here’s one you can read through with a load of references to many other anthropological studies. Enjoy https://t.co/XDWHmFNbi5

Dec 16, 2024 View post →
Raphael Sirtoli
@raphaels7 · X

@ruimm this should work https://t.co/NdLgPTh41b

Oct 2, 2024 · 2 likes · 8,595 followers View post →
LiorLefineder
@lefineder · X

"Isotopic evidence for the diets of European Neanderthals and early modern humans" https://t.co/i6XF2seb2e

Sep 23, 2024 · 14 likes · 29,104 followers View post →
The Plan
@slenderr21 · X

@GoofyShmoobert @Daniel114864381 @LKIESL @pradaliko @ReddCinema Isotopes have nothing to do with nutrition? Lol you don't even know what it is. Humans have recorded a high δ15N %, we consumed high freshwater and marine meat as well as terrestrial game https://t.co/6g9vq0Iw2M

Jul 7, 2024 · 8 followers View post →
Dr. Oliver M.
@OLED_crafts · X

@NeffeliesStuff In short, Humans are carnivores. https://t.co/D52jzvAZfI. (1)

Apr 20, 2024 · 203 followers View post →
Carnivore is Vegan
@CarnivoreIs · X

@_SupportAnimals @New_York_steak Oase1 humans are 40k-27k years old, and more carnivorous than the "top level carnivores" the neanderthals and wolves. https://t.co/J6eGMEPg7K https://t.co/xXdSC35zZG

Apr 16, 2024 · 3,692 followers View post →
The Plan
@slenderr21 · X

@VeganRoo @Only_ASG Stable isotope testing, https://t.co/QCQoqKTXEr https://t.co/NRLFBpUPO3 https://t.co/LsN6wUQncs https://t.co/Ka1QGAjPyf

Mar 16, 2024 · 8 followers View post →
XDB500
@XDB500 · X

@ridgeisland @bulkbiker @AjRockatansky You could satisfy your curiosity by joining the zeroing on health FB group, there are provable 20 - 25 year carnivores on there. Or here is a sensitive test of humans bones to see what they were eating: https://t.co/OhlNXuQiAr. https://t.co/mfaFlhQUCq

Feb 26, 2024 · 286 followers View post →
Maria Emmerich
@MariaEmmerich · X

@Jorsch2R @shashikiranu @SBakerMD @KenDBerryMD I’m not saying vegetables are bad and I don’t think everyone should eat carnivore. But as for early humans, there is a lot of evidence they were apex carnivores. There are tons of studies like this one. https://t.co/gP5FirA4bR

Feb 15, 2024 · 34,098 followers View post →
Trump Is Your Daddy
@xrpstallion · X

@Maroxad So then say the same for the “we mainly ate plants” crowd clown. https://t.co/yhF1zfJenS

Jan 26, 2024 · 229 followers View post →
Wedgie
@Yarrahbunjyil · X

@HarryPickl9508 @carnivoremax That's a fine theory, Harry! The evidence suggests otherwise ~ that we're almost obligate carnivores, but one that can adapt to *short* periods of meat-scarcity (as long as they are short, & we're healthy to begin with). This might interest you... https://t.co/UwlP3HctyB

Dec 7, 2023 · 471 followers View post →
Wedgie
@Yarrahbunjyil · X

@JohnColeman675 @SamaHoole Of course not -- but we can & do read. https://t.co/UwlP3HctyB

Nov 23, 2023 · 471 followers View post →
Eileen Eisenmann PhD
@EileenEisenmann · X

@JohnColeman675 @PETAUK @unlimited_ls Really. https://t.co/zYq9P5XC5n https://t.co/GQNRIDgTD5

Nov 23, 2023 · 2,069 followers View post →
Wedgie
@Yarrahbunjyil · X

@armentsatou @SamaHoole Not true. https://t.co/UwlP3HctyB

Nov 16, 2023 · 471 followers View post →
Wedgie
@Yarrahbunjyil · X

@danbjor_daniel @TheMaxJenkinson @OtherJohnSmith @PlantChompers https://t.co/UwlP3HctyB

Nov 4, 2023 · 471 followers View post →
Carnivore is Vegan
@CarnivoreIs · X

@Kargsbad "There are high-protein plant foods in Europe that... early modern humans could have consumed, such as hazelnuts [commonly consumed in the Mesolithic] that wouldhave been visible in the isotopic analyses, but they are simply not seen" https://t.co/J6eGMEPNXi

Nov 1, 2023 · 3,692 followers View post →
Carnivore is Vegan
@CarnivoreIs · X

@christopher_erc @B_Holmer @SamaHoole This study even says they looked for evidence of available high protein plant foods, like hazelnuts, in human bone collagen, but they were not seen in the isotopic analysis. https://t.co/j5NV6ZgTDl

Oct 11, 2023 · 3,692 followers View post →
Pedro Teixeira MD PhD
@Vote_ForPedro · X

@FitnessCharles @KenDBerryMD Link to reference: https://t.co/L88pvCcL19

Oct 10, 2023 · 2,448 followers View post →
Steven
@professionaldog · X

@Race__Realist @AsarCadyn @carniyogi @beeaannZzZ @FoodFirst_Ty @GladstoneB81859 @nypost There's no way you can say humans were carnivorous. Firstly they show isotope levels higher than carnivores, for various reasons, and (as shown below) "low protein foods are invisible to this technique " https://t.co/6YcNMEgS0k https://t.co/nQWONGC46R

Oct 1, 2023 · 3 likes · 691 followers View post →
Gavin Brooks
@GavinBr25762121 · X

@JimmySm58405905 @KenDBerryMD On what basis do you claim that it’s ‘NOT’? https://t.co/pXDGdol6vs

Aug 4, 2023 · 11 followers View post →
Roger Sayer
@Borissidis89 · X

https://t.co/Uw9h1tPqGR Houston we have a problem..

Jul 25, 2023 · 1,592 followers View post →
Red Panda
@redstoneprime15 · X

@JohnColeman675 @herbivore_club https://t.co/NjlgeBDG5y https://t.co/vR6VcMeIo1 https://t.co/UqyAOlS27L https://t.co/jwksD3SvjY

Jul 2, 2023 · 213 followers View post →
Sudās
@sudas1891 · X

@Squidrider @anthony_chaffee https://t.co/TPfEzsPhpB

Jun 17, 2023 · 637 followers View post →
Oli ¹⁹⁸⁹
@cowboylikeoli · X

@suavektw @ElyysRevenge @SonCreation1 @Welovelamar Richards, M. P., &; Trinkaus, E. (2009). Isotopic evidence for the diets of European Neanderthals and early modern humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(38), 16034–16039. https://t.co/Jn4dYdhCvK ^ Early hominid species (before Homo sapiens) also ate meat

May 21, 2023 · 1 like · 719 followers View post →
Carnivore is Vegan
@CarnivoreIs · X

@hummus_rules @BeateEichenwald "The isotopic evidence indicates that in all cases Neanderthals were top-level carnivores" https://t.co/gcFRqlVSJu

May 16, 2023 · 1 like · 3,692 followers View post →
Kerry C
@creeront · X

@aCarnivoreDiet @BioLayne Pnas would like a word with you. https://t.co/wjVLKdAeNk

May 2, 2023 · 2 likes · 292 followers View post →
Rick The-V
@RickTheV1 · X

@InTheMeatrix @TheCarnivoreLaw This is the research his table is adapted from. It even concedes that analysis on & comparisons to other populations in other areas (Russia & China) hasn't been done yet... https://t.co/sZ3h8KixzI

Mar 18, 2023 · 2 likes · 591 followers View post →
The Ancestral Doc
@j_t_2390 · X

@dhogaza2 @StevenJonMiller https://t.co/jGC0BjJB6d

Feb 12, 2023 · 207 followers View post →
The Ancestral Doc
@j_t_2390 · X

@sciencebyjae Yes. There is. Ample. https://t.co/j8RCotAyku

Feb 5, 2023 · 207 followers View post →
GroidFarmer
@GroidFarmer · X

@DataProGuy @SteAssent @KenDBerryMD @timspector Cute. https://t.co/aAT95YHecU https://t.co/jRwYTTrqiQ https://t.co/6OEpDcNMxt https://t.co/XoShzHm3SN https://t.co/keoI4L7AEH https://t.co/6m1tEOi8Nw https://t.co/KsPMuBWHnn https://t.co/a8lII1yfSD

Jan 16, 2023 · 95 followers View post →
Norrin
@Largies1832 · X

Isotopic evidence for the diets of European Neanderthals and early modern humans | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences https://t.co/WtXTkmA5Za

Jan 11, 2023 · 1,941 followers View post →
Carnivore is Vegan
@CarnivoreIs · X

@mitchseaman @JoeyASchwartz Finding out what we ate is exactly what bone isotope studies do, "The isotopic evidence indicates that in all cases Neanderthals were top-level carnivores and obtained all, or most, of their dietary protein from large herbivores" https://t.co/gcFRqlVSJu

Nov 24, 2022 · 3,692 followers View post →
Carnivore is Vegan
@CarnivoreIs · X

@beansndreams @RainboPlatypus @bclj199 @hayastanforeve1 @rgbrazier @ceddygrock @DMTDave24 @SBakerMD A. Not my claim but B. Early modern human bone isotopes we're consistently more carnivorous than even wolves. I can show you dozens more studies saying the same of entire sites. https://t.co/gcFRqmcVLu

Oct 3, 2022 · 3,692 followers View post →
Carnivore is Vegan
@CarnivoreIs · X

@Muhamma73112026 @CarnivoreSapien One of many studies saying we were carnivores. https://t.co/gcFRqmcVLu

Jul 31, 2022 · 3,692 followers View post →
Carnivore is Vegan
@CarnivoreIs · X

@ukwondering @GoateeWoodson @americagloriou1 @ThVeganTomBrown @selltheworld @89technical @joe31183 @vegansince96 @TheParadigmShif @noonesp95429433 @KetoSustainable @JustinTemplerSr @ElwoodDogMeat @ak059 @tj0101010 @ManagerDairy @RuthArnone @Boogaloo2022 "There are high-protein plant foods in Europe that Neanderthals and early modern humans could have consumed, such as hazelnuts [commonly consumed in the Mesolithic (49)] that would have been visible in the isotopic analyses, but they are simply not seen." https://t.co/kBuR31wWR2

Apr 15, 2022 · 1 like · 3,692 followers View post →
Carnivore is Vegan
@CarnivoreIs · X

@loneshuriken @sauteslut @Emlougar @CapitalistV3GAN @forktown385 @espiteau Humans ate so much meat that bone isotope studies often find no trace of plant proteins. https://t.co/kBuR31wWR2

Mar 10, 2022 · 3,692 followers View post →
AKA_Sadrien
@AKA_Sadrien · X

@DanSnowden @ZeroCarbSarah @VutopiaWellness @Zeteite @drjkahn @SBakerMD https://t.co/JJv3FFdGxv Isotope analysis indicates that humans have been hypercarnivores for over 100,000 years. You are the evolution equivalent of a flat earther.

Jun 29, 2019 · 2 likes · 789 followers View post →