What animal bones in Malawi teach us about the social lives of people long ago
Researchers are studying ancient animal bones in Malawi to understand how early human communities managed resources and social interactions. The study suggests that territorial behavior in ancient foragers was likely influenced by the predictability and density of food resources.
Why it matters
Provides anthropological insights into the evolution of human social structures and territoriality based on environmental factors.
by Alex Bertacchi, Jessica C. Thompson, The Conversation
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Add to Preferred Sources Map of Malawi (left) and the study area (right) showing the distribution of different vegetation types (van Breugel et al., 2015) and the location of archaeological sites investigated by MALAPP (white stars). Credit: Journal of Anthropological Archaeology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jaa.2025.101656 In the ancient past, when human communities were small and the only way to travel was by walking, what were the chances of meeting a stranger? And what would happen next?
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