"Early man dined on insects for a million years" 

   Early man ate insects for nearly a million years,
   according to a study of the bone tools he used to dig out
   the residents of termite mounds. 

   The conclusion comes from microscopic scratches and
   grooves left behind on tools dating from between one
   and two million years ago. Scientists said that the
   evidence for our hominid ancestors eating insects is
   hardly surprising given that termites have a higher
   nutritional content than rump steak. 

   The research, published in the Proceedings of the
   National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), was done by
   Lucinda Backwell of the University of Witwatersrand in
   Johannesburg, and Francesco d'Errico of the Centre
   National de la Recherche Scientifique in Talence,
   France. 

   Ms Backwell said: "Termites are a valuable source of
   protein, fat and essential amino acids, in the diets of both
   primates and modern humans. While rump steak yields
   322 calories per 100 grams, and cod fish 74, termites
   provide 560 calories."

   By Steve Connor, Science Editor
   16 January 2001
   The Independent - English broadsheet  

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   Evidence file for
   http://www.perceptions.couk.com/genes1.html
   (the `Altruist Survivor' series)

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