The Hunting and Gathering Period from 200,000 to 10,000 Years Ago with Handheld (Tarp) Food Distribution and Defining the Nine Pillars for Humanity

Dear Reader,

(1) I offer you a challenge. In the following pages I will send you traveling at a racing speed through history. You will start from the very dawn of civilization until today and follow the human evolution from a grunting animal walking on two legs to a modern citizen of a democratic, open society, with freedom and equal rights for all

(2) I will start with a description of the genetically coded instincts of the human cell in order to explain nine fundamental human rights derived from these instincts. These nine pillars of humanity will be defined from the hunting and gathering period, even if some of them can just be discerned at this time. The "Nine" will be followed through history, how they fared under different governments and how eventually they evolved to become necessary for all modern societies.

(3) The government in Sumeria, historical Mesopotamia, or modern Iraq, will be described first. After Sumeria I will not dwell on the history of each Sumeric-like nation. The Sumeric-like countries in Africa, Early America, China and Japan, despite their long and interesting history, are, from this standpoint, not pertinent. Only when they deviate from the first Sumeric Government formula are they germane.

(4) Brace yourself! I will challenge any prejudices you might have. This has been fun for me to write; I hope it will be equally fun for you to read.

(5) I have to start with some technical medical talks but don't panic. It will be very short.

(6) Much of what everybody wants to accomplish in life comes from two basic instincts baked into our genes: the urges for self-preservation and propagation, with the best possible chance of survival for the offspring. These two fundamental instincts, we — human beings, the species Homo sapiens — have in common with all animals and even plants. It has been postulated that the original mitochondrial DNA, for short mtDNA or the mitochondrial organ, was a bacteria that many millions of years ago invaded a cell and has promoted its own survival by its evolutionary mutations just like any modern virus invades cells, takes over and directs a cell's life. Evolutionary changes in the mitochondrial organ create new species or adaptation of the species to its environment. If a new species is efficient within its environment, the species will survive; if not, it will die. If a new species is unable to adapt to changes in its environment, the species will die out over time. Evolution can therefore take two directions: lead to totally different species or lead to different kinds of closely related species, like two different ape forms.

(7) The mitochondrial organ forms a rugby ball shaped membrane that floats in the cell fluid around the nucleus of every living cell. Protein in the mitochondrion and proteins in the nucleus form genes that are chains of four amino acids: adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thiamine. The order in which these amino acids stack up within genes determines the chemical message for the activities in the cell. The mitochondrion is the organ that is transferred from one cell to another in order to grow specific tissues for transplants, for in vitro fertilization, or to create clones.

(8) The main portion of the mitochondrion has remained unchanged since 200,000-150,000 years back, unchanged from generation to generation for at least some 6000 generations (allowing 25 years for each generation) (Rebecca Cann et al: Nature 329, 1987). It can with confidence be stated that the basic physiological and psychological security needs of humans have remained the same since that time.

(9) The mitochondrion ring has a neutral zone within which mutations can occur without causing new species or diseases. These mutations occur more often and with some statistical regularity, on average, one every 10,000 years. This has been established by several different methods, but one is by simply counting mutations in archeological finds of a known age, as in the 12,000-year-old find from the Gough's cave in Bath, England.

(10) The female sex chromosome (X) is part of the chromosome-setup of both the male (X+Y) chromosome and female (X+X) chromosome of the cell nucleus. Unique for the mitochondrial organ is that it always follows the female sex chromosome (X), controlling the species its germ cell will grow into for both its male or female fertilized eggs. A germ cell is a fertilized egg during its first twenty-four divisions, before an embryo has been defined.

(11) The neutral mitochondrial area can be used to identify family-clans, that is, to determine both when the mutation first occurred in that clan and where the original mother for that clan lived. The more mutations, the older is the clan with a given pattern; the more present inhabitants with that mother's certain pattern of mutations that live within a certain area, the more likely the original clan-mother also used to live there, some thousands of years ago.

(12) Bryan Sykes, Professor of Human Genetics, and his colleagues at the Oxford University, have mapped out the origin and present distribution of the world population based on information from the neutral mitochondrial area in Sykes' fascinating book, The Seven Daughters of Eve (2001, ISBN 0-393-32314-5). He has identified the universal mother, the "Mitochondrial Eve," for the clan that eventually populated the whole world. She might have lived somewhere in Kenya or Ethiopia some 150,000 years ago. Of the 13 clans that have survived in present Africa, only one moved out of Africa by Sinai 50,000 years ago, and formed new clans: seven for Europe between 45,000 and 15,000 years ago, four for America 12,000 years ago, and nine for the rest of the world. The Nine Pillars of Humanity will be tested from the time of Mitochondrial Eve, through history, until today.

(13) The evolutionary hominid species (human-like individuals walking on two legs) was created some five to seven million years ago. Four fundamental pillars or primary instincts of any hominid species may be established already from this time: to live close to water and food resources, to build shelters for their offspring, to communicate by simple sounds, and to live in groups for security and common defense (Richard Klein). All four of these needs we, Homo sapiens, have in common with all ape-like societies.

(14) The genome-mapping project has identified a gene for speech. When this female mutation occurred is not known but now a human being could name things, name things to do, develop systematic thoughts, transfer experiences from one generation to another, build a first memory bank and form a social culture. This was the birth of the human society and the birth of the Nine Historical Pillars. The original generic instinct, the instinct for sexual propagation that we have common with anything living, has to be reviewed separately.

(15) The male sex (Y) chromosome also has a neutral zone that can be used for markers from generation to generation. The first settlers left descendants at each place they populated, or, maybe more often, children from the first settlement moved on to form new ones. A marker from the first male settlers can still be found in present day male populations. The frequency of markers in the present population can be used to estimate the time for the original settlement and also to follow the whereabouts of the earliest Homo sapiens bands. Professor Sykes suggests that people from 33 clans have populated the whole world of today.

(16) The personal identification based on genes makes nonsense of racial and national classifications. Professor Sykes suggests a first name, a surname, and a "matriname" based on the individual gene-pattern as a specific, personal ID. Using this system for the routine issuing of international passports would be useful in tracking international terrorists, drug dealers, and repeat law offenders. It would be more specific than fingerprints. Done as a routine procedure it would not interfere with privacy conflicts; only persons with bad intentions would have reason to refuse.

(17) I am postulating that the invention that allowed the formation of an organized communal band-society was the "tarp." The word "tarp" is used for lack of a better word, with the understanding that the tarp, at this time, might have been a hide or a fiber-woven mat or maybe even a basket (www.mnsu.edu/emuseum, Olga Soffer). There were definitely other stone and bone tools, but the tarp allowed the band to collect and transport enough food for family meals for several days and even for several families; in other words, to trade and to divide food between the members of the band. The invention of the tarp could be the reason for the successful behavioral change that took place around 40,000 years ago, and became the social basis for Late Stone Age and the world migration of the bands. A hide or basket is very fragile for time exposure. Archeological support for this postulate is equally fragile, but still, a reasonable assumption.

(18) The hide, or material replacing the hide, eventually became not only a carrying tool, but, when the environment called for it, also bedding, extra clothing, shoes, tent, rope and so on, just as the hide or woven material is being used in modern times by such hunting societies as the Eskimos in the north and the ancient !Kung San tribes in South Africa. (The "!" sign in front of the letter expresses a clicking sound of the tongue.) One should look at this ancestral life not as brutal, but as satisfying, with intelligent people making the most of their knowledge and their environment.

(19) We can establish the first basic pillar of our ancestors. They needed food, clean water, and clean air. These are physiological needs and cannot be compromised for long periods of time. The sun provides the ultimate energy for all food production throughout all of history. They had a need for propagation and developed social rules for the best survival of their tribe. Here the morality of the Golden Rule, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" starts to evolve.

(20) The second basic pillar need was a shelter with protection for the family from the weather, hostile tribes, and animals. Some used caves, if available, but more commonly simple huts covered with hides or leaves. Eventually, the huts were enhanced with fire for warmth and cooking. The frame of the huts had to be built from local materials. A village with house frames entirely of mammoth bone has been found in Ukraine and dated to be 25,000 years old.

(21) During the Late Stone Age or Bronze Age, one often finds designated areas for waste. This points to a third, maybe not yet a pillar need, but at least a preference for cleanliness. Cleanliness will eventually develop into a third pillar need.

(22) Among early tools were combs carved from bones. An ivory carving of a woman's head from Brassempouy shows a sophisticated hairstyle. The carving is exquisite. The fine hairdo shows there was a desire for the woman to look, what she and her friends possibly perceived as, beautiful. Individual beauty may be a sex signal and a sign of good physical health for propagation. The carving is 25,000 years old.

(23) From about 40,000 years back there was a flourishing trend to decorate the cave walls with paintings, to make stone-carved forms of the female body, and to design musical instruments. Whether this art was created for enjoyment or to emphasize religious or hunt rituals is not clear. In any case, it is still beautiful art. Art may not be a life essential need, but it is a working force already among these early people. We now have another pillar need for human society, a fourth: a perception of art in the beauty of both body and surroundings.

(24) The spread of the Homo sapiens bands across the world started 50,000 years ago. It has to be considered the most successful land conquest in history. The conquest was completed some 12,000 years back. Its success was due to humans' ability to communicate and assemble into groups for hunting, defense, or for a goal of the H/G bands. To communicate and assemble into a group became the fifth and sixth basic pillars for the success of human society.

(25) The earth's population was only four or five million people at this time. It stayed fairly stable at this number during the 190,000-year-long H/G-time because of the limited food supply and limited food transport. Rapid population growth belongs to the coming agricultural and industrial eras, both with more food and better food transport.

(26) Hunting and gathering (H/G) bands never had, and even now living H/G-bands never have, elective leaders in the modern sense. The band could grow to a maximum of 40 to 50 individuals, but no one was allowed to dominate. This is the ultimate description of local control and individual freedom, the ultimate and original democracy.

(27) The yearly rebirth of nature impressed the early humans. In the regularity of nature, they saw a higher power in charge. The H/G-people tend to be monotheistic, and according to Collin Turnbull's book The Forest People in 1961 the illiterate pygmies in Africa still believed an inactive (otiose) god had created the surrounding jungle. Typically, H/G people don't have priesthood or worry about an afterlife in heaven or hell.

(28) In the random irregularity of nature people saw opposing powers fighting it out. A multi-spiritual world was born. This belief became particularly strong during the agricultural period. Natural events were identified as spirits or gods influencing the outcome of harvest, or eventually, for the protection of any other means of making a living. In later times, different saints protecting specific trades are an expression of this trend.

(29) Mythical stories were spun to support social rules, often important to that particular society. The Indians in the jungle of Uruguay still have a rule that the hunter cannot eat his own kill; it would bring him bad luck. His own food had to come from his comrades. By this holy rule the whole band was always assured of food.

(30) Early humans asked themselves: "Could the weather or animal gods be swayed to assure good food supply by gifts?" The Aztecs thought the sun got tired each evening and must be fed hearts and blood to recover for its work the next day. Leaders or shamans pronounced how the gods' needs could be satisfied with offers and ceremonies. Ceremonies were an important part of the offer; professionals, "priests" (generic term), performed them according to a given script in a given place, a "temple" (generic term). Offer-ceremonies have therefore been defined and given a special generic term — dogmas.

(31) The priesthood was the messenger between the super powered spirit, "the transcendent" (Joseph Runzo), and the people. The priesthood became very influential and was closely connected with leadership. A community or state mythical religion became an integral part of the society as it slowly transformed itself from an H/G to an agricultural society.

(32) The need for religion seemed to appear early in humanity, maybe soon after humans had learned to speak. What seemed a logical story to the benefit of both the individual and society was created. "Religion" as a generic term for a "belief system" has remained an essential "Seventh Pillar" all through humanity.

(33) "Gods" and "religious administrations" have varied with people's insight and education. The gods may have different names in different cultures, sometimes only due to different languages. In modern times, the 3000-year-old Jewish "YHWH" gave ideas to the 2000-year-old Christian "God" and the 1500-year-old Muslim god "Allah." All three churches pray to a one, same, single creator. Relative to society, all major world religions, from the oldest 4000-to 5000-year-old Hinduism to the youngest 1500-year-old Islam, claim to hold to the original, moral social truth of the Golden Rule:

(34) Hinduism:One should not behave towards others in a way that is disagreeable to oneself. Anusasana

(35) Confucianism:Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you. Analects

(36) Buddhism:A state that is not pleasing to me, how should I inflict that upon another. Samyutta Nikaya

(37) Judaism:You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Leviticus

(38) Christian:You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew

(39) Islamism:Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. According to early traditions the books of Hadith were first written down in the 900s when Islam had conquered large areas of land with jihad and Islam needed a perpetual social rule to live by.