Project: Physical activity and weaponry in hunter-gatherer subsistence
Research group: Sládek
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Deadline is closed
Hunting for game was one of the key activities in human evolution. Extant and paleolithic hunter-gatherers have an extensive arsenal of hunting weapons. Hunter-gatherers’ arsenal includes projectile weapons such as bow and arrow, atl-atl, javelin, sling and blowgun, or contact weapons that include spear, club and other types of short weapons. Effective use of different weapons involves distinct physical activity. The objective of this project is to assess biomechanical and physiological demands imposed by the use of various weapons in the context of hunter-gatherer subsistence. Biomechanical analysis will be done by the means of electromyography and kinematics methods, physiological demands will be measured by calorimetry and heart-rate monitoring. Physical activity will be set in the context of hunting tactics with diverse weapons as used by the hunter-gatherers. Findings of this project will clarify the trade-off between the use of various weaponry in the human ecology and evolution.
Deadline is closed