What Life Was Like For People During The Ice Age

The Ice Age (and its resulting changes in climate) was among one of the harshest periods on Earth. During an ice age, the earth experiences colder temperatures than normal as well as glacial expansion, along with at least one major ice sheet. Depending on the extent of these two factors, an ice age can last for several thousand, or even millions of years. In our current times, the earth is warming, and icebergs are shrinking as a result of global warming. However, we are still technically in what is known as an "warm interglacial period" because of the presence of two ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica.

When scientists refer to the Ice Age, they are pointing to most recent major ice age on Earth. It occurred between 2.4 million and 11,500 years ago, and it was marked by extreme cold, large ice sheets, and conditions that were difficult to survive in. While humans did struggle during the Ice Age, other species fared worse, as seen with the extinction of the Neanderthals. Not only did humanity survive, but they also made significant evolutionary progress during this harsh era.

They ate a combination of meats and plant-based foods

The events of the Ice Age includes what happened during the Paleolithic Age, which took place between 10,000 and 2.5 million years ago. Arguably, humans during the Ice Age spent most of their time trying to hunt, gather, and cook food. What cavemen really ate during the Ice Ages was dependent on geographic location and what they could find access to. For example, fish and seafood were common fare among coastal communities, while those who lived inland ate land animals. Common sources of meat during this time included woolly mammoth, bison, and elk. Ice Age humans were indeed hunter-gatherers, and they had to work together in order to find food and survive.  However, humans also foraged for plant-based foods, too, such as root vegetables, dandelion, and garlic. Meats and many plant foods were often roasted over fires before eaten. 

Just like today, the importance of plants and animals for human life cannot be understated during the Ice Ages. You've likely heard of the "paleo" diet, which was one of many lower-carb diets to have gained popularity in recent years and are said to be inspired by eating patterns from the Paleolithic Age. While the modern paleo diet focuses on some of the major food groups previously sought after by humans of the Ice Ages, people in that era largely relied on whatever sustenance they could find. This is a far cry from the variety of foods western cultures can easily find today.

Interpersonal communication and language emerged during the Ice Ages

Human language and communication continues to evolve, but it was these specific skills that also began taking shape among people of the Ice Age. Scientists believe early humans of this era had fluent speech and were able to talk with one another effectively. Such interpersonal skills were likely regarded not so much as a way of socializing, but as a survival mechanism. Humans had to work together in order to survive the Ice Ages. This also meant they would need to talk out plans and pass on survival skills to their children.

Aside from survival skills, fluent language had other uses in Ice Age communities. These included the ability to share technological discoveries with one another, as well as telling stories that would be passed down between generations. In addition to interpersonal communication, people of the Ice Age also employed early written communication skills in the form of records via rock drawings. These included drawings of animals and their behaviors, which could translate to more effective hunting techniques for human survival.

They were the first humans to wear tailored clothing

While well-fitting clothing is commonplace in modern times, it's thought that the Ice Age was the first point in human history in which tailored clothing was worn. This is thanks to the invention of the needle. While a variety of tools were invented during the Ice Age, the needle was a key piece of technology that's been handed down through generations since. It's thought that humans migrated further north about 45,000 years ago and started using needles to tailor clothing about 30,000 years ago, but wearing animal hides dates back to more than 300,000 years ago.

Unlike the modern day desire for humans to wear stylish clothing, though, Ice Age fashion was much more practical. The invention of the needle and its ability to tailor clothing was done so for survival. For example, clothing that was too large could fall off a person and then expose them to dangerous cold. It's also safe to say that, while there are a variety of textiles available today, Ice Age clothing was primarily made with animal fur, such as those from foxes, reindeer, and rabbits. As humans became more skilled with their needlework, they also started wearing layers of clothing for warmth.

Natural rock formations sheltered them from the cold

Humans of the Ice Age often carry the misnomer of "cavemen," thanks to earlier research that suggested people of the era lived primarily in caves. While people in the Ice Age sometimes lived in shallow caves, their residence in deep and dark caves has largely been disproven. Sometimes, a shallow cave could provide shelter for large groups. Overall though, scientists now believe people in the Ice Age primarily lived in non-cave rock shelters.

Rock shelters provided necessary shelter from the elements, particularly cold winters. These shelters were primarily made along riverbeds, and any openings were covered with animal hides, sod, or wood. Fires were built inside to help keep those taking shelter warm, but to also provide light while the inhabitants waited for better weather conditions. When summer came, humans would take a respite from rock-based shelters and build huts along open plains instead. 

They evolved to adapt to drastic changes in their climate

The Ice Age continues to be one of the most important evolutionary points for humans. While it's a fact that humans suffered large losses in population at the coldest point in this era, research also suggests their capacity to evolve and become better able to adapt to cold temperatures through migratory patterns. Additionally, their newfound skills in following food trends helped them find sustenance in harsh climates, and their aforementioned tailoring abilities protected their bodies against the elements.

During the Ice Age, it's also thought that humans evolved to stand up-right, and their brains grew larger. Together, these characteristics are linked with their ability to survive the Ice Age and the significant climate changes it wrought. A previous study in the American Journal of Human Biology also estimated that to in order to survive the extreme cold, Neanderthals (a species of the era closely related to humans) needed between 3,360 and 4,480 calories per day, which could have been similar to human caloric needs. This was certainly not an easy feat, given the hunting and foraging required, and the energy likely expended trying to accomplish these tasks. However, this seemingly high-calorie diet just covered their daily activities. In order to survive the harsh climate of the Ice Ages, humans likely survived through other biological adaptations, such as with the development of brown adipose tissue. This type of body fat not only helps to provide heat, but it can also store energy, when needed. 

They managed to enjoy some leisure activities

Arguably, any "free time" a human had during the Ice Age was likely little or non-existent. Much of the time spent in this era focused on finding food, as well as sheltering from the elements and trying to avoid other dangers. However, research does suggest that humans in this era did in fact enjoy some leisure activities from time to time. Among some of their favorite hobbies included art, music, and storytelling. Indeed, these same activities are largely enjoyed by humans today in a variety of forms, thanks to advances in technology. 

Visual art was perhaps a particular favorite among these early humans. While many people during the Ice Age had to take shelter in and around rocks and caves, these spaces transformed into more than just places to sleep, eat, and hide from harsh weather. In fact, research suggests the caves became places where rituals formed, including wall art. Artistic endeavors were sporadic, though increasingly sophisticated, too. Ice Age human art even extended into body art, perhaps an early form of tattooing.

Human life expectancy was unsurprisingly short during the Ice Age

Given the harsh climate conditions and regular lack of food, the average life expectancy for people during the Ice Age was unsurprisingly short. According to the American Journal of Public Health, the average lifespan for a human in the Ice Age was only 33 years old. Despite their ability to work in groups to find sustenance, humans often faced the harsh reality of dehydration and starvation. Infectious diseases also played a factor in the short life expectancy of humans in this era, with diarrheal diseases especially prominent. Other causes of death included violence from other humans or animals, accidents, childbirth, and traumatic injuries.

To help literally save their own lives, humans during the Ice Age developed eating patterns such as gorging themselves when food was available. Over time, humans also evolved to store more body fat for fuel. They even craved salt and sugary foods, knowing these could help stave of dehydration and offer temporary fuel. Ironically, as the American Journal of Public Health notes, humans still engage in some of these patterns today unnecessarily. Some scientists also hypothesize that the ways in which humans of the Ice Age evolved to hold onto more body fat are still prevalent in modern-day humans.

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