Final answer:
Hunter-gatherer societies of the Paleolithic era were clustered and had few shelters, with many using temporary structures like tents or naturally occurring refuges such as caves. They chose locations strategically for defense and climate protection, and their nomadic lifestyle was characterized by resource dependence and egalitarian structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Societies that are clustered and have few shelters are typically those of the Paleolithic era, particularly hunter-gatherer societies. Such societies, often embodied by gatherer-hunters living in groups of around 20 to 30 people, demonstrate a strong emphasis on egalitarian principles, cooperation, and sharing. Their settlements frequently included temporary shelters such as tents and huts, with early humans choosing locations that could be defended against predators and rivals and that were shielded from harsh weather.
The most notable example of shelters in these societies were caves, though not many prehistoric humans lived in caves considering their population size. Most hunter-gatherer societies would move often due to resource scarcity, reflecting their dependence on the environment. The sociocultural complex of gathering and hunting is marked by their nomadic nature, a sexual division of labor, deep environmental knowledge, and an egalitarian social organization.
While several shelter types were used, they were rare, except for the iconic Paleolithic caves that provide much of our evidence for early human habitation. For instance, structures in Siberia and Terra Amata in southern France exhibit the usage of mammoth bones and sticks to create more complex shelters, indicating the progression toward more stable and durable dwellings by the end of the Paleolithic period.