All About Paleolithic People

Since we’re on this journey eating paleolithic foods as part of the paleo diet, it probably makes sense that we learn a little bit more about the lifestyle of the paleolithic people.  During the later period of the paleolithic era, often termed the Late Stone Age or Upper Paleolithic, people lived in small groups or “bands”.  By this point, the human species had spread throughout the world, while the Neanderthals were in decline.  Humans began displaying more modern forms of society, including the use of cave art.  Much of the art depicted the animals hunted by these humans or animals they felt represented strength, like large cats or the rhinoceros.

In their bands, people usually broke down into hunters and gatherers, which is one of the reasons the paleo diet is also called the hunter gatherer diet.  By the Upper Paleolithic, the use of stone was quite common in the forming of tools and weapons.  However, many cavemen still used tools made of bone, antler, and ivory.

In terms of religion, archaeologists have many different theories, but it remains speculation.  It does seem likely, however, that the paleolithic people believed spirits existed within all objects and that consuming animals, like a large cat, could endow them with the spirits of that animal.  It does seem likely that dance, music, and the use of masks began during this era based on cave art depictions.