Jammer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > "it would have taken a lot of time to produce
> such a thing. Hunting-gathering communities
> > generally don't have the resources to devote
> to individuals producing monumental works"
>
> Just a small observation, while HG societies
> didn't do massive constructs (lack of available
> hands) its a fact HG societies generally had more
> time on an individuals hands, not less. If I can
> find it I'll post a link to a study that said
> "Maybe 6 hours of effort a day vs. 9 or 10 in
> early agrarian societies".
>
> And 35% of their society did no work at all.
>
> But they wouldn't build a massive turtle sculpture
> to worship turtles, they would simply interact
> with the turtle spirit in the real turtle.
>
> (If I'm remembering my facts right we STILL don't
> have a 30 hour work week )
>
> Jammer


I have real problems with the HG vs AG study.

One, it assumes that there will always be a successful hunt. Anyoen who fishes or hunts for leisure knows full well that success isn't a guarantee. Yes, on a successful hunt you may spend a handful or hours. But then there's the processing of the kill and the rendering of nonfood items into useful things like leather and tools.

Second, it assumes that the people will always come into contact with vegetable matter when it is ripe. It also assumes that there will be an abundance of such forage available. Neither are true. Other people, animals, weather etc can easily wipe out a local forage base.

Third, if describing modern HG societies, it forgets that there are few human competitors for scarce resources. One of the biggest issues in the Amazon is the pressure logging et al are putting on the small HG groups. If HG living is so superior, they should be able to adapt-- which is not what is happening.

Fourth, there is an enormous difference between nutritional forage from place to place. People lived quite well in upstate New York, but barely survived in many parts of California.

It has always sounded to me like a "get back to nature!" screed for a system that cannot be sustained on Earth with the current population. Or maybe that is the idea: starve people out so the enlightened HG societies can go on.