2023-09-20 04:00:03
The extinction of large animals, which formed the basis of human nutrition, pushed our ancestors to develop more effective weapons for hunting small game. This adaptation has had a significant impact on human evolution, particularly on cognitive development. Illustration of elephant hunting with spears.
Credit: Tel Aviv University
A new study led by Dr Miki Ben-Dor and Prof. Ran Barkai of the Department of Archeology at Tel Aviv University explores this question. The researchers analyzed data from nine prehistoric sites in Africa of Sud, in East Africa, Spain and France. These sites were inhabited around 300,000 years ago, when Neanderthals and A wise man have appeared.
The study shows that the appearance of stone spear points, made with a sophisticated technique called Levallois, coincides with a decrease in the size of animals hunted. This technique requires careful preparation and an anticipated vision of the final result, indicating cognitive development.
Changes in hunting tools and dominant animals at Paleolithic period sites.
Credit: Tel Aviv University
According to Dr. Ben-Dor, a wooden spear is enough to hunt a large animal like an elephant. However, to capture a large animal average like a deer, a stone-tipped spear is more effective. It inflicts a injury more significant, slowing down the animal and increasing the chances of recovering it.
Researchers have also looked at how hunting weapons have evolved over time. Early humans began making stone tools around 3 million years ago and hunting around 2 million years ago. THE Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals improved their spears by adding stone points, produced with the Levallois technique.
This study sheds new light on the evolution of hunting weapons and their link with human cognitive development. It suggests that the need to hunt smaller animals was a key driver of human evolution.
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