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The world's oldest human excrement may have been found in Spain, and it suggests that our ancestors, or at least the Spanish ones, may have eaten more vegetables than previously thought.
Scientists recently found traces of Neanderthal feces at an archeological site called El Salt.
After analyzing the samples, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of La Laguna led by Ainara Sistiaga reported the discovery of chemical footprints of meat and plants.
The chemicals suggest that early humans were omnivores who also ate vegetables as part of their meat-heavy diet.
Scientists previously believed Neanderthals were largely carnivorous, with perhaps some vegetables.
"This study represents the first approach to the Neanderthal diet through the analysis of fecal markers found in archaeological sediment," Sistiaga said.
