From Australopithecus to Homo Habilis

Our journey begins with Australopithecus, a genus that roamed the Earth over four million years ago. These early hominids were bipedal, a vital adaptation that allowed them to navigate the open savannahs of Africa. While they were primarily foragers, their ability to walk on two legs set the stage for future evolutionary advancements. As climate changes occurred and environments shifted, Australopithecus gave way to Homo habilis roughly 2.4 million years ago. This species demonstrated greater tool-making capabilities, using simple stone tools for cutting and processing food. These innovations enabled our ancestors to exploit a broader range of resources, enhancing their survival chances and marking a significant point in the evolution of human ingenuity. Understanding this part of our past is essential, as it lays the foundation for the survival skills we teach today, echoing the resourcefulness of our early ancestors.

On the left Homo Habilis who is chilling.

Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals: A Complex Relationship

The final stages of our evolutionary journey are marked by the emergence of Homo sapiens, around 300,000 years ago, and the coexistence with Neanderthals. Homo sapiens showcased advanced cognitive abilities, including complex language and social structures, enabling them to form intricate societies. This cognitive leap allowed for the development of culture, art, and intricate survival strategies that set them apart from earlier species. Interestingly, Neanderthals, who thrived in Europe and Asia, were contemporaries of early Homo sapiens and exhibited their own sophisticated survival skills, including tool use and hunting techniques. Their eventual extinction, potentially due to climate change and competition for resources, raises important questions about adaptability and survival. At Welcome to the Lions Den!, we honour the legacy of both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals by teaching survival skills rooted in ancient wisdom, fostering a deeper connection to our shared human heritage and the natural world around us.

On the left we have the Neanderthol with his daughter. There were no computers or phones back then. Thee were no policies or government recomendation on how to live your life. The family would spend time together and learn how to hunt and cook from the tribes perspective.

The neanderthol would use the flight or fight responsein their body for hunting.  Possibly 30 minures after the hunt the anxiety and fear would be gone.

Today we use the fight or filght  for many other things that the body was not designed to do. For example school exam's, paying bills and fitting in. In the scnareos just mentioned, the body does  not see the threat go after 30 minutes. It stays around in the body a lot longer, this can creat mental health for an Adult or child with the long exposure to a percived threat and Toxix stress.

There is a lot we can learn about survival and out ancestors.