Believed to be Hypoxis angustifoli, a species with palatable rhizomes:
Charred fragments found in 170,000-year-old ashes in a cave in southern Africa are the earliest roasted root vegetables yet found. The finding suggest the real “paleo diet” included lots of roasted vegetables rich in carbohydrates, similar to modern potatoes…
Our ideas about what early people ate may be skewed by the fact that plant remains are less likely to survive than butchered animal bones – and that researchers seldom look for them. “Many archaeologists are not interested in botanical remains,” says Wadley. Humans, “Earliest roasted root vegetables found in 170,000-year-old cave dirt ” at New Scientist
Paper. (paywall)
Where is the subhuman who gorged on raw zebra flesh (or whatever) when you need him?