Earliest isotopic evidence of high reliance on plant food in the Late Pleistocene hunter-gatherer population (Taforalt, Morocco)

Abstract The transition from hunting-gathering to agriculture stands as one of the most significant dietary revolutions in human history. Yet, due to a scarcity of well-preserved human remains from Pleistocene sites, little is known about the dietary practices of pre-agricultural human groups. Here, we present the first isotopic evidence of pronounced plant reliance among Late Pleistocene hunter-gatherers from North Africa, predating the advent of agriculture by several millennia. Employing a comprehensive multi-isotope approach, we conducted zinc (δ66Zn) and strontium (87Sr/86Sr) analysis on dental enamel, carbon (δ13C), and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analysis on dentin and bone collagen, alongside single amino acid analysis on humans and fauna from Taforalt (Morocco). Our results unequivocally demonstrate a substantial plant-based component in the diets of these hunter-gatherers. This distinct dietary pattern challenges the prevailing notion of high reliance on animal proteins among pre-agricultural human groups. Additionally, it raises intriguing questions surrounding the absence of agricultural development in North Africa during the early Holocene. This study underscores the importance of investigating dietary practices during the transition to agriculture and provides novel insights into the complexities of human subsistence strategies across different regions.