Metsästäjäkeräilijäelämä

Metsästäjäkeräilijäelämä refers to a lifestyle characterized by subsistence hunting, fishing, and gathering wild plants for food. This mode of life was the primary way of human existence for the vast majority of prehistory, and it continues to be practiced by a small number of people globally today. Hunter-gatherer societies typically lived in small, nomadic or semi-nomadic groups, following animal migrations and seasonal plant availability. Their social structures were often egalitarian, with division of labor based on age and sex rather than rigid hierarchies.

The success of hunter-gatherer groups depended on a deep understanding of their environment, including animal behavior, plant properties, and weather patterns. They developed sophisticated tools and techniques for hunting, such as spears, bows, and traps, and for gathering, like digging sticks and baskets. Their material possessions were generally limited due to the need for mobility. Knowledge and skills were passed down orally through generations. While often perceived as a harsh existence, research suggests that hunter-gatherers may have enjoyed periods of relative leisure and a varied diet, often lacking the stresses of settled agricultural life. The transition to agriculture, beginning around 10,000 years ago, gradually led to the decline of widespread hunter-gatherer lifestyles.