New evidence suggests humans learned to chew food by middle Jurassic period
Scientists report that new findings indicate the ability to chew and swallow emerged at least during the middle Jurassic era when dinosaurs were dominant.
Timing of chewing evolution
Researchers have analyzed fossil records to determine when this specific biological trait first appeared. The data points to a timeframe in the middle Jurassic period rather than later eras. This discovery pushes back the known history of human-like eating habits significantly.
Context of dinosaur dominance
The emergence of this ability coincided with an era when dinosaurs still reigned over the planet. Fossil evidence from that specific geological layer supports the new timeline for chewing development. These findings challenge previous assumptions about when mammals began processing food in this manner.
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