X-Message-Number: 4532
From: Peter Merel <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #4528 - #4529
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 14:40:49 +1000 (EST)

Mike Darwin writes,

>1) Humans apparently evolved on Savannah: grass land,  as runners and
>hunter-gatherers.  In short they left the trees and became nonarboreal.  
>2) Humans hunted in packs and used the same general "wear 'em down" 
>and/or "get the weak ones" technique that dogs do.

Fossil evidence suggests that even australopithecines used
spears and clubs, which are much more effective weapons than teeth.
Darwin's dogs have well protected heads because they have to use them
as weapons - no cat-claws, and no man-thumbs. But one man with a spear
can kill a lion or a bear, keeping his fragile head far away from danger.
So our heads have evolved to accomodate tracking and cooperation skills, 
rather than pointy teeth.

Actually, as hunters, humans are considerably better adapted than dogs
and wolves. We have much better stamina than any other animal - healthy
humans can happily dog-trot better than thirty miles a day, every day.
This is mainly due to humans being the sweatiest animals; if you ever
need to hunt your dinner, you can just trot after it until it drops of
heat prostration. You can do this even if you have a taste for dogmeat!


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