Final answer:
The traditional view of the Neanderthal dietary niche sees them as primarily carnivorous, but recent challenges indicate that they also consumed plant-based foods and had a more varied diet that included terrestrial and marine resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The traditional view of the Neanderthal dietary niche is that they were primarily carnivorous, relying on a diet composed mainly of meat. This view was based on the discovery of animal remains in Neanderthal archaeological sites and the analysis of their teeth, which suggested a strong preference for meat consumption. However, recent challenges to this theory have emerged. One challenge is the discovery of plant remains in Neanderthal dental calculus, indicating that they also consumed plant-based foods. Another challenge is the analysis of stable isotopes in Neanderthal bones, which suggests a more varied diet, including both terrestrial and marine resources.