News in Brief Archaeology

Cave debris may be the oldest known example of people eating starch

Charred material found in South Africa suggests humans digested starch long before farming

South Africa cave

STARCHY SITE  Ashy discoveries in South Africa’s Klasies River Cave suggest that humans cooked and ate starchy plants such tubers and roots as early as 120,000 years ago.

Wits University

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Small fire pits in a South African cave have yielded what researchers regard as the oldest known examples of a key dish in ancient humans’ daily menu.