Researchers have determined that early humans living 1.6 million years ago in northern Kenya employed a strategic combination of hunting and scavenging to obtain meat. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed fossilized animal bones, stone tool marks, and hominin remains discovered at the Koobi Fora Formation.

Evidence from cut marks and bone percussion indicates that members of the genus Homo accessed animal carcasses while significant amounts of flesh and fat were still attached. This suggests early humans did not rely solely on abandoned predator leftovers but instead competed directly with carnivores or reached kills shortly after they occurred.

Lead author and biological anthropologist Francis Forrest stated the findings demonstrate a balanced and adaptable approach to survival. The analysis showed that hominins transported nutrient-rich animal parts to separate locations for processing, where they extracted marrow to meet the high energy demands of brain growth and social cooperation.

The research highlights that this behavioral flexibility across different habitats was a primary trait in early human evolution. Scientists noted that some fossils showed limited modification, confirming that opportunistic scavenging remained a component of the broader survival strategy.

Future studies will investigate how animal size and environmental shifts specifically influenced these feeding patterns. Researchers intend to further examine the link between these dietary behaviors and the development of early human social structures.