Hunting and Gathering Culture Through the Ages

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Hunting and gathering also known as foraging is probably the oldest form of human subsistence. Hunting and gathering societies survive on hunting animals and gathering food available in nature fit for consumption.

Hunting and gathering was being practiced by human beings around the globe until approximately twelve thousand years ago.

Origin and Meaning of Hunting and Gathering:

The origins of hunting and gathering societies can be traced back to the Mesolithic period. Hunting and gathering culture first began from the continent of Africa. It then spread to Asia and Europe.

Hunter and gatherers depended on killing animals for meat and foraging for food available in nature and other nutrients like honey for food. Before the development of hunting and gathering culture human beings depended on scavenging on carcesses of animals left by other preadetors.

Characteristics of Hunting and Gathering Societies:

Hunting and gathering societies generally consisted of a small number of people, there were a maximum of fifty to hundred people in a group. 

As agriculture was not discovered in those times, hunters and gatherers led a nomadic life for survival, they did not stay at one place for a long period of time.

They used to move to new places every now and then for food like fish. As they did not stay at one place for long periods they made temporary shelters, they searched for caves as shelters wherever possible and also built shelters in open spaces.

The tools used by the early hunters and gatherers were primitive, they used to have sharpened rocks beforehand axes were developed. 

Later on fire was used to cook food like meat and it also helped in scaring away predators who might attack or take the food away. Although there are still doubts as to when the use of fire began.

Hunters and gatherers are some of the only societies of the world that were egalitarian. There was division of labor on the basis of gender. Everyone was given basic shelter.

Decline of Hunting and Gathering Societies:

Hunting and gathering societies came to an end with the start of the Neolithic period. With the beginning of the Neolithic period agriculture was developed. According to archeological finds the first communities to develop agriculture practices were in the middle east.

With the development of agriculture people started to settle at one place. Slowly hunting and gathering became almost extinct. 

Agriculture helped the people to have a more stable source of food and they did not have to lead a nomadic life. Agriculture provided food for a larger number of people.

Soon permanent settlements were being made around the water sources. Due to permanent settlements the shelters were also made of wood, bone to last for longer periods.

Hunting and Gathering Societies around the World

Although with the development of agriculture hunting and gathering societies almost died out, there are still a few of them left around the world.

Hadza:

The Hadza people are a hunter-gatherer group who live in Tanzania. Their native homeland includes Eyasi valley and other nearby hills. Hadza is one of the last surviving hunting and gathering societies in Africa. They have a total population of approximately 1,300 people.

As a hunting and gathering society they do not store food, or practice agriculture, or domesticate animals. They survive by hunting with hand made bows and arrows, they also forage for food, and also consume honey.

They have a unique language of their own known as Hadzane. This language mainly consists of clicking and popping sounds.

The Hadza people are facing problems searching for food as their lands are being encroached turned into agricultural lands. They have almost lost over seventy-five to ninety percent of their land.

The Yanomami Tribe:

Yanomami people live in Amazon forests in Venezuela, Brazil. There are around 32,000 people in the tribe divided in 200-250 villages. The Yanomami people live in semi-permanent villages. 

They also practice agriculture with hunting. When the soil loses its fertility they move to new places or when there is a susceptible attack from other Yanomami groups.

The Yanomami are constantly at war with each other. However, currently they are facing loss of their land due to mining practices, which are being held without their permission.

Written by: Priyanshu Bhardwaj

Edited by: Gourav Chowdhury