Natufian Inhabitants of Carmel Systematically Consumed Snakes and Lizards for 3,000 Years

A new study from the University of Haifa reveals that the Natufian culture, which lived in the Carmel region about 15,000 years ago, systematically consumed snakes and lizards as a significant part of their diet for approximately 3,000 years. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the research identified cut marks on vertebrae of large snakes, indicating deliberate preparation and consumption by humans rather than incidental eating.

The study found that reptile consumption was higher during periods of permanent and intensive settlement and decreased during shorter, seasonal stays. Dr. Maayan Lav, who led the research, explained that this pattern reflects a strategic adaptation to longer-term habitation, relying more heavily on local food sources. This transition from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle in the Levant marked a gradual shift where hunter-gatherer communities reduced their mobility, built dwellings, and diversified their food resources well before the advent of agriculture.

Researchers analyzed thousands of reptile bones from 20 archaeological layers at the Nahal Me'arot cave terrace in the Carmel Nature Reserve, dating from 15,000 to 12,000 years ago. Microscopic examination distinguished cut marks from other damage, confirming human processing. Among the reptiles, three large species were most common: the forest viper, the black whip snake, and the common skink. The team also noted selective hunting, favoring species that offered a favorable balance of food yield, ease of capture, and safety, such as the slow, non-venomous forest viper, while more dangerous species like the venomous viper were less frequently hunted.

The findings demonstrate that early sedentary humans had an in-depth understanding of their environment and managed their resources carefully, repeatedly choosing specific reptile species over thousands of years. This research sheds new light on the dietary strategies accompanying the earliest permanent human settlements in the region.