Human Evolution: The Biology of Man

Persistence Hunting: Pressure for Performance

The adaptations discussed above finally allow us to talk about how humans managed to survive in the wild. Equipped with an uncontested ability to move at a moderate pace for hours at a time, it became easier to access nutrient rich foods, most notably meat. In order to accomplish this, humans began to implement a technique known as persistence hunting.

Persistence hunting is simply the style of hunting that exploits our knack for endurance. Just like cheetahs catch prey by out-speeding them, humans evolved to out-last them.

How Persistence Hunting Works

When on a hunt, human hunters would identify an animal they want to kill and run towards it. As they approach, these animals would be forced to gallop away. After reaching a safe distance, these animals, which lack sweat glands, would hide in the shade and pant to lower their body temperature. However, while these animals try and recover, the hunters (equipped with sweat glands and efficient locomotion) would catch up before the animal fully recovers, forcing it to run away before it is ready.

Over time, the animal will not be able to keep up with the recovery rate of humans; it will be unable to run away as it overheats. The humans will find it’s exhausted body and kill it with ease.

This lifestyle sets off a chain reaction of adaptations that redefined the human species. The most notable evolutionary change involved development of larger brains.