How did primitive humans, with a top speed of 28 mph, hunt large mammals like deer, bears, wolves, etc, that can reach speeds of near 35 – 40 mph?
In: Biology
Three main factors.
1) as stated by others, we outlast them. We’re are the terminators of the animal kingdom. We will keep on coming, sand rubbing after them until they drop from overheating.
2) ambushes. We sit, and wait by watering holes and trails, and dens until they pop out. Then when.. Dinner. Most predators do this.
3). We can throw things. We can throw very well, and at high speeds. This is a trait no other animal has, and is very effective even if you’re just chucking a pointy stick. Once we got better with tools (bows, slings, etc) it’s game over
Similar to how we do now, we would’ve figured out that if we climb a tree over a deer trail, and sit still, the deer will walk up and not notice us. Maybe leave a handful of grain on the trail, something to catch the deer’s attention
Endurance. Humans didn’t tire as easily as other animals. say a deer can only run so fast for a short amount of time, so eventually they would tire out and become exhausted, while the human was able to keep going and catch up.
Most animals can outrun humans, but only for short distances. Humans run slower, much slower, but we can go forever. There is no marathon running in the animal Kingdom, but if there was humanity would be champ.
Ancient humans would track animals through the bush, the animal would run away, and the primitive humans would just lope after it. The animal would get scared run, and the humans would run after it again. We also had the brains to track it. Rinse and repeat after 6 hours and that fast gazelle is too tired to continue anymore. It’s now dinner.
Basically, it’s like zombie movies, but to animals we’re the relentless zombies.
Later on, as our brains developed, we did as humans do and use our brains to save on effort. Why chase an animal when you can set a trap? Later on still, clever humans discovered animal husbandry. Now we only use our long-distance skills to hunt 26.2 stickers for our Priuses.
Edit: when I say “we”, I refer to humanity. I am not *personally* optimized for running.
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