The discovery of a 1.6 million-year-old Homo erectus skeleton, known as KNMER 1808, revealed evidence of a painful condition likely caused by an overdose of vitamin A. This was likely due to eating the liver of a carnivore, which is rich in vitamin A. The incident highlights the risks associated with the adventurous eating habits of early humans. The episode explores the evolution of human diets, from plant-based to meat-eating, and the risks that came with it, such as encountering predators, poisoning from plants, and diseases from scavenged meat. The episode also discusses the discovery of early human sites, such as Gona, Ethiopia, and Kanjara South, Kenya, which show evidence of meat-eating and seafood consumption. Additionally, the episode touches on the consumption of insects and honey, which were likely part of early human diets. Overall, the episode emphasizes that there is no single "paleo diet" and that early humans were willing to eat a wide variety of foods, often taking risks in the process.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. In 1973, a fossil hunter discovered a partial skeleton of a female Homo erectus in the Koobi Fora Formation in northern Kenya.
2. The specimen, known as KNM ER 1808, was 1.6 million years old.
3. The skeleton was relatively complete, including parts of the skull, limbs, and pelvis.
4. The bones of KNM ER 1808 showed evidence of disrupted bone growth, which would have been painful and potentially fatal.
5. The researchers who studied the bones believed that the condition was caused by an overdose of vitamin A.
6. Vitamin A can be toxic in high doses, causing a range of symptoms including bone pain and swelling.
7. The researchers thought that KNM ER 1808 may have obtained the excess vitamin A from eating the livers of carnivores.
8. Early humans, like modern humans, were opportunistic omnivores and ate a wide range of foods.
9. The earliest evidence of meat-eating by early humans dates back to around 2.5 million years ago.
10. The site of Gona, Ethiopia, has yielded evidence of early humans breaking down animal carcasses, but it is unclear how often they ate meat.
11. Another site, Kanjara South, in Kenya, has shown that early humans were eating meat on a regular basis around 2 million years ago.
12. Early humans likely ate a variety of plants, including fruits, leaves, and grasses.
13. Some plants, like unripe tomatoes, contain toxins that can be harmful if eaten in large quantities.
14. Eating a variety of plants may have helped early humans avoid getting poisoned by eating too much of the same thing.
15. Fossil evidence suggests that early humans may have eaten insects, including termites.
16. Insects are a good source of protein, fat, and micronutrients, and are relatively safe to eat.
17. Honey is also a nutritious food source, but can be difficult to obtain due to the risk of bee stings.
18. Modern humans still eat a wide range of foods, including some that are toxic or potentially hazardous.
19. A study of ancient human remains in Norway found that they had eaten fish that were contaminated with toxic metals.
20. The willingness to eat a wide range of foods, including some that are potentially hazardous, is a hallmark of the human species.