Hunter-Gatherers    
History's Storytellers   
   

 

    

   Our civilization has its "story" - Santa Claus, which dates to the early 1800s. We also hunt - bargains - and gather - stuff - from Black Friday until December 24. Then, we become exchangers.  
  
   What if we could talk with early humans, the real hunter-gatherers, and learn how and if they were inclined to fib a little? After all, to survive, they were totally occupied hunting and gathering. 

   There are still real-deal, primitive people in South America. These tribes want no part of outsiders, and if you wander into their jungle, you might become somebody's dinner.

   But, yea! We can still find approachable hunter-gatherers, indigenous Austronesians (think South Pacific) scattered among the mountains of Luzon, The Philippines. They are called Agta, or Aeta (pronounced EYE'ta). 

   The Spanish knew them to be fierce warriors, with iron tools, and bows and arrows. They tried and failed to resettle them on reservations. Due to lack of organization, some Aetas were caught and sold into slavery in Borneo and China. 

   These nomadic Aetas mostly build temporary shelters of sticks and banana leaves. Their clothing is scanty.

   Ladies, you'll be pleased to know that most of the Aeta women hunt in groups, and are about twice as successful as men, according to scientists. When mixed groups hunt with their dogs, they do even better than men or women alone. 

                                 Tomorrow: Unique source of cooperative behavior
    Jimmy