The Ancient Americas

Overview

At the end of the Ice Age, everyone lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. In fact, humans evolved as hunters and gatherers. For more than 95% of our human past, all people in every part of the world lived in small groups of up to several dozen, hunted wild animals, gathered wild plants, and moved often to find food and other resources.

In many ways, hunting and gathering was a great way to live. We know this from anthropologists' research on more recent hunting and gathering peoples.

Hunters and gathers:

	Generally had more leisure time, spending as little as 2-3 hours each day foraging for food, compared to the 6-8 hours farmers spend tending crops.
	Respected and gave important roles to women, children, and the elderly. For example, women often provided much of the family's food calories by gathering plants. Knowledge passed along by older people contributed to everyone's survival.
	Were keen observers with a sophisticated knowledge of their land and resources.

But while the hunting and gathering lifestyle had many benefits, a growing population, a changing climate, and new environments would create new challenges.

Did you know that YOU are built to be a hunter-gatherer?

Because we evolved to fit the hunter-gatherer lifestyle, we still require plenty of physical activity, and we operate best on a diet rich in protein and plants and low in fat and sugar.

Today's chronic diseases, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, result in part from abandoning the mobile foraging ways of our ancestors.

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