Scientists Say Neanderthals Ate Rotting Meat With Maggots — And This Is Why They Could Stomach It

Neanderthals are believed to be skilled and active hunters during their time here on Earth. Evidence also suggests they were able to hunt various-sized animals, from the huge mammoths to deer and bison. Just like the modern human species, Neanderthals also used spears and other tools to gather their food and resources.

However, scientists are baffled by the amount of nitrogen isotope levels found in their remains, the same level often discovered with hypercarnivores like lions or crocodiles. So, rather than a normal diet, researchers think they may have practiced some form of fermentation, which includes eating rotten meats filled with maggots.

The Nitrogen Mystery—and Why Maggots Matter

A new study led by anthropologist Melanie Beasley suggests Neanderthals ate meat that was left to deliberately let fat-rich maggots feed on it. This is a weird dietary habit that could explain why Neanderthals were discovered to possess the same level of nitrogen isotopes in their bones as hypercarnivorous species.

Hypercarnivores such as lions, wolves, sharks, crocodiles, and polar bears all developed the ability to process extreme protein-filled food sources without suffering fatal consequences. They are species that could eat meat for 70% or above of their total diet, and were often considered apex predators of their environment.

This is what the incredibly high nitrogen-15 isotope levels in Neanderthal remains meant. However, not even the modern human species is capable of this feat. But eating the maggot-infested meat could explain how their remains reached the high isotope levels, instead of relying on the consumption of an impossible amount of lean meat, similar to other hypercarnivores, who specifically evolved for it.

What these findings likely mean is that Neanderthals might have developed cultural food preparation practices, including the storage of food for a long winter. The study also suggests they know how to delay food consumption, exhibiting discipline for survival, and not just gorge on meat the first time they see it.

Read more: Nature

The Maggot Menu: Strategy Over Immediate Consumption

Did Neanderthals Really Eat Maggots: Shocking New Findings?

Rather than eating fresh meat after a successful hunt, neanderthals may have let that rot first until it was maggot-infested. This dietary practice of delayed consumption allowed them to ferment the meat, make it easier to chew and digest, while increasing its nutrients.

The reason why neanderthals could stomach it is likely because of their robust digestive system and gut microbiome that could digest rotting meat and maggots without being sick. Exposure to these types of food sources for several generations could have built natural resistance in their body, allowing them to extract the necessary nourishment to survive.

Since maggots are very high in fats and amino acids, they make the consumption of the meat more of a complete food item. The various records from indigenous tribes, such as Inuit communities, also showcase that eating meat with maggots is part of survival strategies and traditional values of some cultures.

Reassessing Neanderthals’ Ecological Role

Neanderthals may have been an omnivorous species like humans, squeezing every nutrient from their environment. Rather than just being meat-munchers, they could have been intelligent foragers with a great understanding of fermentation, storage of food, and cycling resources.

Letting the meat they hunted or scavenged sit for days to allow meat to infest gives them a diet that provides a balance of calories and proteins. It is also a great tactic during the ice age, or whenever food is scarce, as it allows them to extend the life of their resources.

Read more: Science Advances

Scientific Debate and What Comes Next

This is a great theory that could change how we see one of our ancient evolutionary cousins, neanderthals. However, not all of the scientific community agrees, as the maggot-infested meat may not account for all the other enriched isotopes found in their remains.

Some researchers also argue that the maggots are not nearly enough to explain the incredibly high levels of nitrogen isotopes found. More rigorous studies coming from different fossils are needed to confirm the hypothesis. Nevertheless, this theory is more compelling than the outdated one that states they are hypercarnivores.

A Brief History Of When Neanderthals Met Modern Humans

Author's Final Thoughts

Neanderthals existed long before modern humans did, and their diet is most likely not just pure raw meat. They may have utilized maggot fermentation to include rich fat and other nutrients into their protein-filled food sources. If proven true, it just highlights how survival before was not just about brute strength, but also about a species’ adaptability to its environment.

Read next: Female Hunters May Have Been More Common Than We Thought in Prehistoric Times — And Here’s What Scientists Found

References & Further Reading

Beasley, M. M., Lesnik, J. J., & Speth, J. D. (2025). Neanderthals, hypercarnivores, and maggots: Insights from stable nitrogen isotopes. Science Advances. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12292906/

Beasley, D. A. E., Koltz, A. M., Lambert, J. E., Fierer, N., & Dunn, R. R. (2015). The evolution of stomach acidity and its relevance to the human microbiome. PLOS ONE. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4519257/

Science News Staff (2025). Maggots may have been on the Neandertal menu. Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/maggots-neandertal-diet

Sistiaga, A., et al. (2014). The Neanderthal meal: A new perspective using faecal biomarkers. PLOS ONE. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0101045