A groundbreaking study published in Nature Human Behaviour provides strong evidence that humans’ remarkable capacity for endurance running played a crucial role in our evolution. The research, conducted by Bruce Winterhalder from the University of California, Davis, and Eugène Morin from Trent University, offers compelling support for the endurance pursuit hypothesis, which posits that our ancestors evolved to run long distances as a hunting strategy.
Unraveling the Mystery of Human Endurance
Humans possess an extraordinary ability to run long distances, even outperforming many other mammals in endurance events. Our bodies are uniquely adapted for sustained running, with slow-twitch muscle fibers and an efficient sweating mechanism for heat dissipation. These traits have long puzzled researchers, leading to the question: Why did humans evolve to be such proficient long-distance runners?
The endurance pursuit hypothesis, first proposed by biologist David Carrier in 1984, suggests that these traits evolved to enable humans to pursue large game animals through persistence hunting. This theory was later expanded by Dennis Bramble and Daniel Lieberman, who identified specific physiological adaptations that appeared in the Homo genus nearly 2 million years ago.
However, the hypothesis has faced skepticism due to the higher energy cost of running compared to walking and the limited evidence of endurance hunting among contemporary hunter-gatherer societies.
New Evidence from Historical Records
Winterhalder and Morin’s study addresses these concerns by combining mathematical modeling with an extensive analysis of historical accounts. Leveraging advanced software to sift through thousands of digitized records from explorers, missionaries, and officials, the researchers uncovered 391 descriptions of hunts matching endurance pursuit tactics, dating from 1527 through the early 20th century.
These accounts originated from 272 locations worldwide, suggesting that endurance pursuit hunting was a widespread practice across diverse environments. The data revealed a common pattern in these hunts: hunters would pursue prey animals, which would initially outpace them. The prey would then pause to recover, allowing the hunters to catch up. This cycle would repeat until the animal became exhausted and was overtaken.
Bruce Winterhalder, professor emeritus in the UC Davis Department of Anthropology and Graduate Group in Ecology, explained the significance of their findings: “We have software that allows us to search for information that dwarfs what we could do if we were trying to read through all the possible sources ourselves.”
The study also uncovered variations in hunting tactics, including team-based relay pursuits and the use of lookouts to guide hunters. These cooperative strategies hint at a social element to endurance running in human societies, potentially influencing social status and mate selection.
Why it matters: This research provides strong support for the idea that endurance running was a crucial factor in human evolution, shaping not only our physical capabilities but also our social structures. Understanding this aspect of our evolutionary history can offer insights into human physiology, behavior, and even modern athletic pursuits.
To complement the historical data, Winterhalder and Morin employed mathematical models to assess the efficiency of endurance pursuit hunting compared to other foraging methods. Their analysis showed that under certain conditions, such as high heat or challenging terrain, endurance pursuits could match or exceed the net return rates of other hunting methods.
“We found that in contexts like high heat or a substrate that impedes the animal, such as crusted snow, the net return rate of food acquisition from endurance pursuits can match or exceed that of other methods of prey acquisition,” Winterhalder stated. “The chance of pursuit failure appears to diminish, and exhausted prey are safer to approach. For early humans without ballistic weaponry, these are significant advantages.”
While the study primarily focused on male participation in endurance hunting, the researchers acknowledge the need for further investigation into female involvement. They noted that in cases where rituals or games involving running were mentioned, participants generally included women, men, and children.
This comprehensive study not only strengthens the endurance pursuit hypothesis but also opens up new avenues for research into the origins of human running and its potential psychological benefits, such as the “runner’s high” experienced by many modern athletes.
As we continue to unravel the complex tapestry of human evolution, this research highlights the unique place of endurance running in our species’ history. Future studies may further explore the interplay between our physical capabilities, social structures, and cognitive development, providing a more complete picture of how we became the long-distance runners we are today.
