Did Neanderthals Eat Maggots? A Closer Look at an Unlikely Food Source

For decades, the prevailing view of Neanderthal subsistence has been simple: they were apex predators, consuming large amounts of meat, perhaps more than any other known hominin. Nitrogen isotope ratios in Neanderthal bones have suggested a diet even richer in animal protein than that of hyenas or cave lions. But a new study proposes a different explanation—one that suggests Neanderthals were eating something most modern humans would consider unthinkable: maggots.

Maggots that feed on putrid meat were likely tasty treats for Neanderthals. Credit: Melanie Beasley

This idea, presented by biological anthropologist Melanie Beasley at the annual meeting of the American Association of Biological Anthropologists¹, challenges long-standing assumptions about Neanderthal hunting behavior. If correct, it could reshape how researchers interpret both their diet and social structures.