As Americans with our vast wealth and technology, we often stereotype hunter-gatherers like the Bushmen as 'primitive.'

As Americans with our vast wealth and technology, we often stereotype hunter-gatherers like the Bushmen as ‘primitive.’

As Americans with our vast wealth and technology, we often stereotype hunter-gatherers like the Bushmen as ‘primitive.’ But how long could you do it? No running water, no automobiles, and (gasp!) no cell phones! Most of the skills and things you currently have would be utterly useless living off the land. How do the Bushmen do it? What skills would you have learn to survive by hunting and gathering? +300 words, include references.

Sample Solution

The Bushmen, also known as the San or Khoisan people, are a nomadic ethnic group that have traditionally lived off the land by hunting and gathering their food. They are excellent hunters, trackers, gatherers and scavengers who live in small family units of five to fifteen individuals. The resulting lifestyle has meant that they need an extensive set of skills to survive in their harsh environment.

The primary skill required for bushman survival is tracking; this means being able to identify animal tracks and trails as well as understanding how animals behave. Tracking can lead them to food sources such as bird’s nests or small game like hares and rabbits. It can also be used to locate predators such as lions or large antelopes which could provide an important source of nutrition. This requires patience, observation skills and knowledge of the environment.

Another vital skill is fire-building; this includes harvesting dry wood from trees or shrubs without damaging them unnecessarily and using it to create flames for warmth during cold African nights. Additionally fire is used for cooking meat which would normally be too tough to eat raw without risk of food poisoning from microorganisms not destroyed by heat treatment (McDonald 2018). Fire building also requires knowing when conditions are optimal for starting a flame eg wind speed/direction etc (Grundvig 2011).

An additional key skill developed over generations is toolmaking – crafting weapons like spears and arrows out of hardwood shafts with arrowheads made out of sharpened stone tips or animal bones (Henshilwood et al 2013). Tools were essential for hunting larger game such as antelope where accuracy was needed due the lower yield per kill compared with smaller prey items but even more importantly they were necessary protection against potential predators while sleeping outdoors at night (Parkington 2005).

Finally plants were collected throughout the year providing a balance macro-nutrient diet high in fat and carbohydrates such Taro root bulbs, grubs, termites and honeycomb obtained from wild bees hives (Malan 1986). Gathering fruit was particularly important since it provided sustenance during times when hunting was more scarce eg during drought seasons when natural resources become depleted (Cullen et al 2019). To do this successfully Bushmen had to have knowledge about which fruits ripen at different times along with information on where best places could be found nearby – all possible through oral history passed down through generations within communities (Biesele 1995) .

Collectively these skills allowed Bushmen groups living off the land since prehistoric times until today maintain their unique way life despite increasingly difficult environmental pressure posed by modern human activity causing interference with traditional habitats including depletion groundwater reserves essential water sources many regions (Tsosane & Thatcher 2018 ). Of course others may find it impossible to survive in such conditions but ultimately individuals must adapt quickly learn new ways if they are move forwards make most their opportunities available them no matter how primitive they seem outside perspective .

References:
Biesele M., 1995 ‘Bushman Folklore’ In Lee R B & De Vore I Eds , Encyclopedia Of Cultural Anthropology D Kinsley & Co New York pp 112 – 115
Cullen P., Jankowski J., Chamaillé-Jammes S., 2019 ‘Spatio-Temporal Variability Of Food Acquisition Strategies Among Kalahari Hunting And Gathering Societies‘ PLoS ONE 14(11): e0224883 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224883 Accessed 28th October 2020 Mcdonald R., 2018 ‘Fire As An Evolutionary Force For Human Ecological Adaptations’, American Anthropologist 120(2): 415–427 https://doi 10 1111/aman 11897 Accessed 28th October 2020 Parkington J E 2005 ‘Hunter Gatherer Ecology And Land Use Patterns On The Cape South Coast In Historical Times’ In Cole N ed Huntergatherers In History Archaeology And Anthropology Oxford University Press Oxford UK pp 79 – 90 Tsosane P A & Thatcher A S 2018 ‘Fragmentation Threatens Sustainable Livelihood Practices Through Compounded Stressors: Evidence From South Africa’s Kalahari Semi–Arid Region’ Global Environmental Change 53 16 – 27 Https://DOIOrg /10 1016 /J Glob Env Chang 2017 12 037 Accessed 28TH October 2020 Grundvig O 2011 ‘Mastering Fire Making Skills Primitive Fire Starting Techniques You Can Do Without Matches’ Mother Earth News 183 Retrieved From Https Www Motherearthnews Com Diy Projects Mastering Fire Making Skills Zmaz87sozraw Accessed 8TH November 2020 Henshilwood C S Et Al 2013 Discovery Of Symbolic Material Culture Expression At Blombos Cave Contemporaneous With Early Modern Humans Nature 518 78 – 81

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