Final answer:
The 'woman the gatherer' hypothesis suggests women's gathering played a critical role in early hominin survival, offering significant nutritional resources and tool developments. The second hypothesis is based on Homo erectus' use of fire and suggests that cooking and eating meat influenced hominin brain development and social behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are 2 hypotheses for why early hominins began eating meat and hunting that contrast earlier beliefs. The first hypothesis challenges the 'man the hunter' perspective by suggesting the importance of 'woman the gatherer'. It postulates that gathering, primarily performed by women, offered significant nutritional resources and required the development of tools for gathering, which have not survived in the fossil record due to their organic nature. This implies that both men and women contributed equally to the survival and expansion of early hominids through their respective roles.
The second hypothesis emerges from the documented use of fire by Homo erectus evidenced by ancient hearths, charcoal, and charred animal bones found at sites such as Zhoukoudian, China. These findings suggest that Homo erectus not only consumed meat but also had the cognitive abilities to hunt, cook, and develop sophisticated hunting strategies. The adoption of meat into the diet, alongside the use of fire for cooking, may have played a significant role in the increase of brain size and the evolution of social behaviors among hominins.