More than what the ancient people ate, more important is to know how often they ate. They did not have stocks of ready to eat foods sitting in the fridge. Daily search for food most likely began at dawn, and by the time they found and killed an animal and dragged the carcass back to the cave to be butchered -or- found enough fruits and root vegetables was several hours later. And after they had eaten a belly full that was most likely well into late afternoon and was probably the last and only meal of the day.
If this ritual went on for a million years or so before agriculture was invented about 15,000 years ago, human genes have 98.5% cave man genes.
So..follow your genes, walk a lot every day and eat a lot in a short period of time every day for the best chance of avoiding modern man diseases like diabetes, heart disease and joint pains.
Did they have a way of preserving meat?
I have found intermittent fasting to be one of the quickest ways to get rid of aches and pains and to stop a cold I feel coming on. Humans weren’t created to eat 24/7. Autophagy is important.
A thought on when they learned that cooked meat tasted better...
Periodically prairie and/or forest fires would occur burning down whatever vegatation and animals trapped in the prairie fire. Having been without food for several days and coming upon the burned carcass, I think it possible, that being hungry they carved meat off the burned animal and consumed it.
Having eaten this burned meat, they found it easier to chew, tasted better and was easier on their digestive systems and this then led to their bringing raw meat home and having a BBQ between the periodic natural, wild fires. The more advanced people would have had beer and or wine to go with the meal. Just a thought....
Sounds like the intermittent fasting thing ... eating between 4 to 6 p.m. and that's it. I'm told it helps with weight loss.
“eat a lot in a short period of time every day for the best chance of avoiding modern man diseases like diabetes, heart disease and joint pains.”
Just be sure it is mostly meat, tubers and fruit. No french fries, donuts, or cola.