Metsästäjäkeräilijöiden

Metsästäjäkeräilijöiden, known in English as hunter-gatherers, refers to a type of human subsistence economy where people rely on hunting wild animals and gathering wild plants for food. This way of life was the dominant form of human existence for the vast majority of prehistory, spanning from the emergence of early humans until the development of agriculture. Hunter-gatherer societies were typically nomadic or semi-nomadic, moving seasonally to follow animal migrations and exploit the availability of edible plants.

The social organization of hunter-gatherer groups was generally characterized by small, egalitarian bands. Kinship ties were paramount, and decision-making was often shared. Resources were typically communally owned, and there was little social stratification or accumulation of personal wealth. Their material culture was adapted to their mobile lifestyle, often consisting of tools made from stone, bone, wood, and other natural materials.

The transition from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled agricultural societies, known as the Neolithic Revolution, began around 10,000 BCE in the Fertile Crescent and later independently in other parts of the world. This shift led to significant changes in human society, including population growth, the development of villages and cities, and the emergence of social hierarchies. While agriculture became the dominant mode of subsistence globally, some hunter-gatherer groups persisted into modern times, often in remote or marginal environments, though their numbers have continued to decline. Studying hunter-gatherer societies provides valuable insights into early human behavior, social structures, and the development of human culture.