Hunter Gatherers of the Paleolithic Era

Hunter Gatherers

Paleolithic Era

• Lasted from approximately 2.6 million years ago to 10,000 BCE
• Characterized by the development and use of stone tools
• Humans lived in small, nomadic groups, following game and seasonal food sources

Social Organization

• Typically, small groups of 20-50 people, often consisting of extended family members
• Leadership was often informal, with decision-making shared among group members
• Social hierarchy was relatively egalitarian, with little to no concept of private property

Food Gathering Techniques

• Hunting: using tools like spears, traps, and driving animals off cliffs
• Gathering: collecting fruits, nuts, roots, and other edible plants
• Fishing: using nets, lines, and poisoning to catch fish
• Foraging: searching for and collecting insects, shellfish, and other small animals

Why People Moved from One Place to Another

• Following game migrations and seasonal food sources
• Searching for better living conditions, such as more abundant resources or favorable climate
• Escaping natural disasters, conflicts, or harsh weather conditions

The Beginning of Farming and Herding

• Around 10,000 BCE, some hunter-gatherer groups began to domesticate plants and animals
• This led to the development of more settled, sedentary lifestyles and the emergence of agriculture
• Farming and herding allowed for population growth, social complexity, and eventually, the rise of civilizations

Details on Mehrgarh

• A Neolithic site in modern-day Pakistan, dating back to around 7000 BCE
• One of the earliest farming communities in the Indian subcontinent
• Mehrgarh's inhabitants practiced agriculture, harvested wheat and barley, and raised sheep, goats, and cattle
• The site provides valuable insights into the transition from hunter-gathering to farming and herding in the region.

Paleolithic Era

• Lasted from approximately 2.6 million years ago to 10,000 BCE
• Characterized by the development and use of stone tools
• Humans lived in small, nomadic groups, following game and seasonal food sources

Social Organization

• Typically, small groups of 20-50 people, often consisting of extended family members
• Leadership was often informal, with decision-making shared among group members
• Social hierarchy was relatively egalitarian, with little to no concept of private property

Food Gathering Techniques

• Hunting: using tools like spears, traps, and driving animals off cliffs
• Gathering: collecting fruits, nuts, roots, and other edible plants
• Fishing: using nets, lines, and poisoning to catch fish
• Foraging: searching for and collecting insects, shellfish, and other small animals

Reasons for Migration

• Following game migrations and seasonal food sources
• Searching for better living conditions, such as more abundant resources or favorable climate
• Escaping natural disasters, conflicts, or harsh weather conditions

Emergence of Agriculture

• Around 10,000 BCE, some hunter-gatherer groups began to domesticate plants and animals
• Led to the development of more settled, sedentary lifestyles and the emergence of agriculture
• Farming and herding allowed for population growth, social complexity, and eventually, the rise of civilizations

Mehrgarh

• A Neolithic site in modern-day Pakistan, dating back to around 7000 BCE
• One of the earliest farming communities in the Indian subcontinent
• Practiced agriculture, harvesting wheat and barley, and raised sheep, goats, and cattle
• Provides valuable insights into the transition from hunter-gathering to farming and herding in the region

Learn about the characteristics of human societies during the Paleolithic Era, including their tools, social organization, and way of life.