The fat from frozen mammals reveals sources of essential fatty acids suitable for Palaeolithic and Neolithic humans.

The elucidation of the sources of n-3 fatty acids available for the humans in the Upper Palaeolithic and Neolithic is highly relevant in order to ascertain the availability of such nutrients in that time frame as well as to draw useful conclusions about healthy dietary habits for present-day humans....

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS ONE
Main Authors: José L Guil-Guerrero, Alexei Tikhonov, Ignacio Rodríguez-García, Albert Protopopov, Semyon Grigoriev, Rebeca P Ramos-Bueno
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014
Subjects:
Medicine
R
Science
Q
Fid
permafrost
Siberia
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0084480
https://doaj.org/article/f64a73757cc64775b66830bd32f31b54
Description
Summary:The elucidation of the sources of n-3 fatty acids available for the humans in the Upper Palaeolithic and Neolithic is highly relevant in order to ascertain the availability of such nutrients in that time frame as well as to draw useful conclusions about healthy dietary habits for present-day humans. To this end, we have analysed fat from several frozen mammals found in the permafrost of Siberia (Russia). A total of 6 specimens were included in this study: 2 mammoths, i.e. baby female calf called "Lyuba" and a juvenile female called "Yuka", both specimens approximately from the same time, i.e. Karginian Interstadial (41,000 and 34,000 years BP); two adult horses from the middle Holocene (4,600 and 4,400 years BP); and two bison very close to the Early Holocene (8,200 and 9,300 years BP). All samples were analysed by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS) and GLC-flame ionization detector (GLC-FID). As demonstrated in this work, the fat of single-stomached mammals often consumed by Palaeolithic/Neolithic hunters contained suitable amounts of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, possibly in quantities sufficient to meet the today's recommended daily intake for good health. Moreover, the results also suggest that mammoths and horses at that time were hibernators.

Similar Items