Did humans evolve to chase down prey over long distances?

Outrunning prey over long distances is an efficient method of hunting for humans, and it was widely used until recently, according to an analysis of ethnographic accounts

By Michael Le Page

13 May 2024

Humans have an exceptional ability to run long distances

sportpoint / Alamy Stock Photo

Before the advent of rifles, many cultures around the world hunted by pursuing prey over long distances. The energy gained by hunting in this way can far exceed the energy spent running, researchers have found, strengthening the argument that humans evolved for endurance running.

“I think our paper makes a very strong case for its importance in the past,” says Eugene Morin at Trent University in Canada. “Something that was thought to be marginal is now shown to be a common strategy worldwide.”

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Humans are exceptional endurance athletes, capable even of outrunning animals such as horses over distances of tens of kilometres. We have muscles built for stamina rather than power, and can keep cool by sweating a lot.

“These traits can only be explained in the context of running,” says Morin. “And there are not many reasons for humans to run for long distances other than hunting.”

It has been suggested that humans evolved to chase prey until the prey became too exhausted or overheated to run any further.