ZME Science reports:

Across the dense forests of the Congo, the sunlit islands of the Pacific, and the icy reaches of the Arctic, the few remaining hunter-gatherers have thrived thanks to their astonishing athleticism. A new study led by George Brill and colleagues from the University of Cambridge reveals that hunter-gatherer societies worldwide practiced an extraordinary range of locomotory behaviors. These include walking, running, swimming, diving, and climbing.

One of the most intriguing findings was that men and women across these communities possess shared proficiency in running, climbing, swimming, and diving. These findings dismantle the long-standing myth that physical prowess and specific locomotor skills were the domain of one gender over the other.

“High levels of locomotor versatility are not only common but also generally egalitarian,” the researchers noted.

Across the globe, hunter-gatherer societies demonstrate a breathtaking array of movement strategies. In Southeast Asia, Bajau women spend hours diving for fish, just as their male counterparts do. Among the Mbuti of Central Africa, men and women alike scale towering trees in search of honey. Even in the Arctic, Copper Inuit women take part in long-distance runs for hunting expeditions alongside the men. [Continue reading…]