Analysis of ancient teeth has enabled scientists to build a detailed picture of what was on the menu for early human beings 1.8 million years ago. The tooth of Paranthropus robustus Chemical traces have shown that the early hominid changed its feeding habits from month to month, indicating a nomadic lifestyle. The findings increase the chances that the species, Paranthropus robustus, was wiped out by Man’s direct ancestors in a battle for supremacy on the African plains. Until now, research on the shape of the teeth has suggested that the hominid became extinct because it was unable to adapt to environmental changes as its diet was too specialised. But analysis of four Paranthropus teeth found at Swartkrans in South Africa has shown that, far from living on tough, low-quality vegetation, the species had a varied diet. Among the foods that it consumed were fruit and nuts, sedges, grasses, herbs, seeds, tree leaves, tubers and roots. Meat may have been eaten, although it is impossible to tell whether it was hunted or scavenged. The Anglo-American team said in its report, featured in the journal Science, that the teeth showed evidence of seasonal variety in diet. There were […]