UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE

Faculty of Arts and HumanitiesModelling prehistoric hunting behaviour

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Searching game

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Hunting is particularly successful when several strategies are pursued simultaneously. The search and pursuit of fresh tracks is one strategy. Another is the search by sight. If an area is slightly richer in vegetation, animals in hot regions like to stand alone or in small groups in the shade of trees and bushes. Hunters are thus more successful if they search the distance for game and the nearer surroundings for fresh tracks at the same time. A regular check of the wind direction is necessary so that animals in walkind direction do not smell the hunters before the hunters can see them. In addition, in areas with distinctive topography or vegetation, orientation also plays an important role, as one must be able to find the way home.

One person can hardly manage all this alone. Therefore the Ju/hoan San from the Nyae Nyae region go hunting in small groups of 2 to 4 persons. During the search for game the group walks behind each other in short distances. This allows several people to search the distance for animals and at the same time the nearer surroundings for fresh tracks.

If they stay close behind each other and the game in front of them notices the hunters first, the animal sees only one person and not several. If the group moves slowly and stops or crouches in time, the animal may not notice them at all. If the first person is recognized as a human being and keeps an eye on him, the hunters behind can crouch and slowly sneak out of the row to attack the animal from the side.

When sneaking up, verbal communication is not possible because the hunters would quickly betray themselves as humans. Therefore, very specific gestures and whistling signals are used. Therefre every game species has an individual hand signal. A short whistle and a hand signal is used frequently to inform the others of an animal sighting.