Study Showed How The Human Brain Grew After Large Animals Went Extinct

Dr. Miki Ben-Dor and Prof. Ran Barkai of Tel Aviv University's Jacob M. Alkow Department of Archaeology have presented a recent paper that offers an original unifying theory for the human species' physiological, behavioral, and cultural evolution from its first emergence about two million years ago to the agricultural revolution (around 10,000 BCE).

According to the article, humans originated as large-animal hunters, ultimately causing their extinction. Humans evolved higher cognitive capacities as they adapted to hunting small, fast prey species, as demonstrated by the most noticeable developmental change-the rise in brain capacity from 650cc to 1,500cc.

When species shrank in size toward the end of the Stone Age, humans had to spend more resources hunting than they could recover. The Agricultural Movement, which included the domestication of both animals and plants, took place during this time. The size of humans' brains shrank as they settled into permanent villages and became farmers, to the present amount of 1300-1400cc. This resulted because, with non-flying domesticated plants and animals, there was no longer a need to dedicate extraordinary cognitive ability to the role of hunting."

Prof. Barkai points out, "Although the chimp's brain has remained unchanged for 7 million years, the human brain has evolved three times its original size, hitting its height about 300,000 years ago. In addition to increased brain volume, evolutionary pressure compelled humans to use language, fire, and sophisticated tools such as the bow and arrow, adapt their arms and shoulders to throwing and hurling tasks, and their bodies to the long chase, improve stone tools, domesticate dogs, and eventually domesticate the game itself, and turn to agriculture."

Who is Responsible?

Prof. Barkai continues, "It's important to note that our opinion is not predetermined. Humans are to blame for their own misfortune. They triggered extinctions by focusing on hunting the biggest species. Wherever humans emerge, whether homo erectus or homo sapiens, we see large animals' mass extinction sooner or later. The cost of relying on big animals was high.

Humans sabotage their own life. However, while other animals, such as our Neanderthal cousins, died when their massive prey vanished, homo sapiens opted to start again, this time depending on agriculture."

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