Culture of Early Humans

By: Eden Pagaura

Foraging culture is a kind of culture existed during the hunting and gathering period; where in humans before greatly depends on hunting their own food. Foraging culture started among early humans they are called Hominins; it is started in Africa “The Cradle of Humankind”. Humans in this era were very active in catching or hunting animals as their basic source of food.

In Asia and Mesoamerica, agriculture and domestication become known and people during that era were hunters and gatherers. Most hunters and gatherers in this period have variety of ideas in catching food such as trapping animals, gathering insects or shellfish, and also gathering wild plants in order to acquire and maintain their healthy and more balance diet. Basically, during the hunting and gathering period; the one that hunt big time food were adult men, while gathering local foods such as plants, fish, and insects were usually women and children. In other words, division of labor through gender has emerged in this era where men hunt, while women gather food.

However, hunters and gatherers characteristics have been changed through time; they were able to practice humanly characteristics by carefully burying their dead and also generating ornamental things. Usually, they are considered to be nomadic people for the reason that they can hunt their own food through the use of stone tools and can move to another habitat when their food supplies are not enough to suffice their needs.

Moreover, nomadic people usually occupy near water since it has many resources. In the Philippines particularly in Palawan, an Anthropologist Robert B. Fox discovered Tabon man in Tabon Caves; it is said to be a “Stone Age Factory” with both finished stone flake tools and waste core flakes. Tabon cave is said to be a habitation of man for a period of 40,000 years, from 50,000 to 9,000 years ago.

In addition, the two theories of the first Filipino inhabitants in the Philippines have emerged namely; Beyer’s Migration Theory and Jocano’s Evolution Theory. Migration Theory states that first migrants were the “Cavemen” where it resembled “Java man”, “Peking man”, and other Asian home sapiens. On the other hand, Jocano disputes Beyer’s theory and be able to state in his Evolution theory that Filipinos came from Negritos and Malays who migrated to Philippines a thousands of years ago.

Filipino ancestors are said to be Malays, they lived near seashore and rivers; they can easily adjust to their environment and eventually formed their own culture. The cultures of these Filipino ancestors come in different forms; in religion, styles of clothing, and customs. In terms of religion, our ancestors have worshipped different gods and they also believe in life after death; Bathala is the one who rules heaven and earth, Anito is considered to be their redeemer, and Babaylans are the one who initiates rituals to communicate with the spirits of the earth. In terms with the styles of their clothing; the use of ornaments are used to beautify appearances and clothes were usually silk and plant fibers, a Tattoo ornament also symbolizes strength and bravery. In terms also of Burial customs where in the tribes have many kinds in doing it; it could be in a Manunggul Jar, hanging Corpse, Hanging Coffins, Tree Trunk Burial, or Wrapped Corpse Burial. Lastly, Courtship and Marriage were taken seriously by our ancestors where in it must base on the parent’s wish of whom they will marry.