Early Hunters & Gatherers

Our earliest ancestors lived in hunter and gatherer societies. All peoples that migrate from one area to another to live without settling down to farm are hunter and gatherers. Earliest humans living in this fashion invented many tools that we use today.

History

Hunting and gathering was how humans lived before the Neolithic period, which began approximately 10,000 years ago. Humans lived in one area until resources were exhausted, then moved to another area.

Significance

Hunting and gathering was a form of living that allowed humans to work together. The use of tools and language evolved during hunts where groups of humans needed to communicate actions and strategy.

Geography

Hunter and gatherer societies existed on many different continents. Wandering humans reached even remote islands and island continents such as Australia.

Famous Ties

The Jean Auel's "Earth's Children" series showcases pre-historic hunter-gatherers. Darryl Hannah starred as a young hunter-gatherer girl in a movie adaptation of the first book, "Clan of the Cave Bear" in 1986.

Fun Fact

While agriculture has become the normal way of life for most people globally, there are still tribes of hunters and gatherers. Most well-known are tribes in South American jungles such as the Pygmies.

References

• Modern Hunter Gatherer Tribes

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Hunter and Gatherer Cultures