Early humans engaged in hunting activities fundamental to their survival and evolutionary development. This practice provided a consistent source of meat, offering nutritional benefits that contributed to changes in human physiology, such as increased brain size. They developed diverse strategies to acquire food from their environment. The animals they pursued reveal much about their adaptive capabilities and resourcefulness.
Large Prey Pursued
Early humans frequently targeted large animals, often extinct megafauna. Woolly mammoths and mastodons were prominent prey, with evidence suggesting active tracking and hunting by ancient humans as early as 14,000 years ago in North America. These enormous creatures provided significant amounts of meat, fat, and other resources to early human communities. Other large herbivores like bison, including extinct species such as Bison antiquus, were also central to the diet of Paleoindian groups in North America.
Hunting such formidable animals presented considerable challenges and risks. Archaeological findings, including Clovis points lodged in mammoth skeletons, indicate that early North American hunters used spears as pikes, planting them in the ground for charging animals to impale themselves. This method allowed hunters to take down prey weighing several tons. Neanderthals in the Middle Paleolithic also hunted large ungulates like aurochs, bison, horses, and rhinoceros, sometimes driving them into natural traps.
Smaller Game and Aquatic Sources
Beyond megafauna, early humans also hunted smaller, more common animals that provided a consistent and less hazardous food supply. Deer, wild boar, rabbits, and various bird species supplemented the diet, reflecting their adaptability. In some regions, early humans specialized in hunting small arboreal animals like monkeys and squirrels for tens of thousands of years. This adaptability allowed human populations to thrive even in environments lacking large game.
Aquatic resources became increasingly important, particularly in coastal or riverine settings. Evidence suggests that early humans consumed fish, with remains found at sites dating back to nearly 800,000 years ago. More than 70,000 years ago, humans in Central Africa utilized barbed points to spear large catfish, highlighting the development of specialized tools for aquatic hunting. Shellfish and seals also contributed to the diet in appropriate environments.
Methods of the Hunt
Early humans employed a variety of sophisticated techniques to hunt their prey. Ambush hunting was a common strategy, where groups would surround animals and drive them into confined spaces or natural traps. Persistence hunting, or endurance hunting, involved chasing prey until exhaustion, a method facilitated by human adaptations for long-distance running. This technique allowed hunters to overcome faster animals by outlasting them, especially in hot environments.
The tools used for hunting evolved over time, starting with simple implements made from stone, wood, and bone. Early humans used thrusting spears and later developed throwing spears. The atlatl, a spear-throwing device, significantly increased the power and range of thrown spears. Archaeological evidence, such as cut marks on animal bones, confirms active hunting rather than just scavenging. Cave paintings, some dating back over 44,000 years, depict hunting scenes with human-like figures wielding spears.
Beyond Sustenance
Hunted animals provided early humans with more than just food; nearly every part was utilized. Hides were crucial for creating clothing and mobile shelters, like tipis and wigwams. The processing of animal skins for warmth and shelter was particularly important as humans migrated into colder climates outside of Africa. Mammoth bones, for example, were used to construct huts in prehistoric Siberia.
Bones, antlers, and teeth were fashioned into a diverse array of tools and objects. Long bones and antlers were shaped into spear points, needles, awls, and fish hooks. These materials also served for making specialized items such as scrapers, reamers, and musical instruments like flutes. Teeth were often drilled for decorative purposes, worn as ornaments on clothing or necklaces.