Readers react to Neandertal diets and impressionist art

A song for the (stone) ages

People have long eaten putrid foods, forcing scientists to rethink the diets of Neandertals and other hominids, Bruce Bower reported in “Stone Age cuisine” (SN: 3/25/23, p. 16).

Reader Maria Reidelbach asked Google’s AI chatbot to write a song inspired by the story, in the style of musician Tom Waits:

Deep in the cave, the Neandertals eat
Putrid meat, their only treat
They gnaw on the bones, they chew on the skin
And they don’t give a damn if it’s been in

Chorus:
Putrid meat, putrid meat
It’s all they’ve got, it’s all they eat
Putrid meat, putrid meat
It’s the only thing that keeps them going

The Neandertals are a tough bunch
They’ve been through a lot, they’ve seen a lot
But they’re still here, they’re still alive
And they’re still eating putrid meat

(Repeat chorus)

Some people say the Neandertals are extinct
But I know they’re not, I’ve seen them
They’re out there, somewhere, eating putrid meat

(Repeat chorus)

So if you’re ever feeling...