In this photo provided by Antonio Rosas, Paleoanthropology Group MNCN-CSIC, shows work in the Tunnel of Bones cave, where 12 Neanderthal specimens dating around 49,000 years ago have been recovered. Scientists got a sneak peek into the kitchen and medicine cabinets of three Neanderthals by examining the DNA of the stuff stuck on and between their teeth. What they found smashes a common meaty misconception of the caveman diet and hints that one sickly Neanderthal had found what may be primitive versions of penicillin and aspirin to help him with his pain. (Antonio Rosas/Paleoanthropology Group MNCN-CSIC via AP) (The Associated Press)
WASHINGTON – A new study says eating like a caveman depends on the location of the cave. In Belgium, a Neanderthal chowed down on sheep and woolly rhinos, yet in Spain they munched on mushrooms, pine nuts and moss in Spain.
Scientists got a sneak peek into the kitchen of three Neanderthals by scraping off the plaque stuck on their teeth and examining the DNA.
What they found smashes a common public misconception that the caveman diet was mostly meat. They also found hints that one sickly teen used primitive versions of penicillin and aspirin to help ease his pain.
Alan Cooper, director of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, said genetic tests showed which animals the 42,000-year-old Belgian Neanderthal ate: sheep and rhinos that roamed nearby.
The study is in Wednesday's journal Nature.
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