A trio of archaeologists from the University of Cambridge in the U.K., George Brill, Marta Mirazon-Lahr, and Mark Dyble, have conducted a pioneering study into the physical activities of people in hunter-gatherer societies, both past and present. Their findings, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, challenge the long-standing assumption that male physical prowess was the dominant focus in these societies, while female physical abilities were often overlooked. By examining over 900 research papers on hunter-gatherer groups, the team found evidence that both men and women participated in a variety of demanding physical activities, suggesting that gender did not play a significant role in determining one’s physical capabilities in these societies.
Historically, many anthropologists and historians have focused on male athleticism, particularly in the context of hunting, which has been viewed as a crucial component of survival in hunter-gatherer societies. The physical prowess of men has often been romanticized and elevated in academic and cultural discussions, with women’s roles and abilities frequently sidelined or underestimated. The study led by Brill, Mirazon-Lahr, and Dyble, however, seeks to rectify this imbalance by scrutinizing the full spectrum of physical activities across both genders. The research involved examining a broad range of ethnographic studies, archaeological data, and historical accounts of contemporary and ancient hunter-gatherer communities.
In their research, the team discovered that women in these societies were often engaged in the same types of physical activities as men. This included running, swimming, climbing trees, and diving for marine food sources—activities that required significant strength, endurance, and skill. The study also revealed that women were often involved in tasks that were critical to survival, such as gathering food, participating in rituals, and engaging in competitive physical contests. The researchers pointed out that, contrary to the prevailing bias in historical narratives, women were not just passive participants in these societies but were also highly active and skilled in the physical demands required for daily survival.
One area in which gender bias did appear was in the climbing of tall trees. While men were often depicted as the primary tree climbers in some cultures, the researchers found that this was a rare exception rather than the norm. In most cases, women participated in tree-climbing activities alongside men, challenging traditional assumptions about physical roles within these communities. The researchers noted that these gender-based differences in physical activity were infrequent and did not dominate the overall patterns of behavior within these societies.
In addition to their focus on gender, the researchers explored the broader context of physical fitness in hunter-gatherer societies. They found that physical activity was not only essential for survival but was also deeply embedded in the social fabric of these communities. In many hunter-gatherer groups, physical contests and rituals, such as those involved in courting or demonstrating prowess, were important cultural practices. These events often highlighted physical fitness and athleticism, reinforcing the idea that being physically fit was a fundamental aspect of life and social status within these groups.
The team further emphasized that human physicality is the result of millions of years of evolution, during which humans adapted to a wide range of environments and survival challenges. Over time, early humans developed the ability to walk upright, run long distances to hunt, and engage in various forms of physical labor, such as foraging for food. These adaptations are thought to be central to the development of human anatomy and physiology, shaping the versatile body that modern humans possess today. The ability to move efficiently and effectively through diverse environments—from grasslands and forests to deserts and polar regions—allowed early humans to thrive in nearly every corner of the Earth.
Perhaps one of the most striking findings of this study is the versatility of human locomotion. Unlike most other species, humans are capable of a wide range of movements, from running and walking to swimming, climbing, and even diving. This adaptability in movement has been a critical factor in human survival, allowing our ancestors to exploit a wide variety of food sources and adapt to the challenges posed by different environments. The researchers note that this adaptability in physical movement may have been one of the keys to human success as a species, as it allowed early humans to meet the demands of a variety of habitats, from the dense forests of Africa to the icy tundras of the north.
In addition to their findings about physical activity, the researchers also discussed how hunter-gatherer societies were shaped by the pressures of survival. The constant need to forage for food, whether through hunting or gathering, required individuals to be in peak physical condition. This emphasis on physical fitness was likely reinforced by the challenges posed by these environments, where survival often depended on strength, endurance, and the ability to work together as a community. The study found that hunter-gatherer societies, especially those still in existence today, continue to place high value on physical fitness, with many communities still engaging in activities that promote and maintain physical health.
The research team also acknowledged that while modern humans live in a vastly different environment from their prehistoric ancestors, the legacy of these ancient survival traits persists. In contemporary societies, physical fitness remains a significant cultural and personal priority, often linked to health, well-being, and status. However, this study underscores the idea that the importance of physical fitness is not a modern construct but a deeply ingrained aspect of human evolution and cultural development.
This research adds a crucial layer of understanding to the way we view hunter-gatherer societies and challenges long-standing gender biases that have shaped our perceptions of the past. By highlighting the physical activities of women and men in these societies, the study suggests that both genders played equally important roles in the survival and success of these communities. This contribution to our understanding of prehistoric life offers valuable insights into the ways in which humans have adapted to their environments, interacted with each other, and developed the physical capabilities that allowed them to thrive in diverse and challenging conditions.