Re: Speciation - how do you know?
Paul Crowley (Paul@crowleyp.demon.co.uk)
Sun, 06 Oct 96 21:24:56 GMT
In article <538fc3$ekl@lyra.csx.cam.ac.uk>
nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk "Nick Maclaren" writes:
> You have just proved that none of the Bantu peoples hunted until they
> received European technology (in some places, well into this century).
> This conflicts with observation - perhaps reality needs adjusting?
Bantu hunters occupy a niche that is quite distinct from that of
lions or that could possibly have been occupied by Neanderthals -
a diurnal one exploiting fast running and long endurance. They
run down their prey. They operate in an open, fairly dry
territory with long sight lines. They are highly skilled hunters
with thousands of years of tradition. (This is how I understand
it anyway - I'm no expert.)
One thing we know about Neanderthals is that they did not have
this sort of capability. Bantu peoples also have far better
weapons. Once they exhaust the (older, weak or sick) animal,
they can kill it fairly quickly with sharp spears and knives.
If Neanderthals had been slightly built, you might have the
beginnings of a case. But they weren't.
Paul.
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