During the last Ice Age, which peaked around 20,000 years ago, Stone Age humans made several adaptations to survive in harsh and frigid environments. Here are three notable ways in which they adapted to their surroundings:
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Tool Innovation and Use: Stone Age humans developed more sophisticated tools to hunt and process food in icy conditions. They crafted specialized weapons, such as spear-throwers (atlatls) and carved bone or antler points, which allowed for greater accuracy and efficiency in hunting large game like mammoths and reindeer. Additionally, the creation of tools for skinning, butchering, and preserving meat was crucial for utilizing their resources effectively.
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Clothing and Shelter Construction: To cope with the cold, humans began crafting warmer clothing from animal hides and furs, which provided insulation against the harsh temperatures. They also constructed more robust shelters using materials like mammoth bones, wood, and stone, often creating dwellings that were semi-subterranean or insulated with earth to moderate the internal climate. These adaptations helped them maintain body heat and provided a safe space from the elements.
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Mobility and Resource Management: Ice Age humans were highly mobile, often following migratory patterns of large herbivores across vast landscapes. Their understanding of seasonal changes and animal behavior allowed them to track herds and optimize their hunting strategies. They likely established seasonal camps and utilized a range of foraging strategies to gather edible plants, nuts, and berries when available, showing adaptability to changing resource availability in frozen landscapes.
These adaptations collectively enabled Stone Age humans to endure the challenges posed by the last Ice Age and thrive in a dynamic and often hostile environment.