Upper jaw and teeth from a 49,000-year-old Neanderthal found in theCueva del Sidrón (Spain).Hardened
Upper jaw and teeth from a 49,000-year-old Neanderthal found in theCueva del Sidrón (Spain).Hardened plaque from the teeth of this Neanderthal showed that theyate a diet of mostly vegetable material, including moss, mushroomsand pine nuts.DNA from the individual’s microbiome was also found in the plaque. They were suffering from a dental abscess, possibly caused by asupspecies of the bacterium Methanobrevibacter oralis. Remnants of poplar were found, which had probably been chewed oreaten for pain relief (salicyclic acid, the active ingredient inmodern-day aspirin, can be found in poplar).The pathogen Enterocytozoon bieneusi caused the Neanderthaldiarrhea and vomiting, so they may have turned toantibiotic-producing molds to treat it. Remnants of Penicillumrubens genetic material was found on plant matter in their teeth. -- source link
#history#prehistory#medical history#genetics#bacteriology#botany#early humans#neanderthals#paleolithic period#spain#prehistoric spain#paleolithic spain#asturias#poplar#antibiotics#unsanitary /#emetophobia tw