Final answer:
To understand very early, non-living human beings, the field of anthropology, with a focus on biological anthropology and primatology, would be the most relevant. These fields involve the study of early human ancestors and nonhuman primates to infer lifestyles, social structures, and cultural practices, providing insights into human evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you wanted to understand very early, non-living human beings, you would likely engage in the field of anthropology, specifically biological anthropology and primatology. Researchers in these fields study early hominins, analyzing fossils and artifacts to determine aspects of their diet, diseases, social structures, and cultural values. By also observing contemporary gathering and hunting societies, as well as nonhuman primates, anthropologists gain insights into the lifestyles and values that may have characterized early human ancestors. For example, they might have lived in egalitarian bands with a flexible division of labor, a strong emphasis on sharing, and a comprehensive knowledge of their environment.
Primatologists and biological anthropologists study the physical and behavioral traits of living and fossil primates, both to understand the evolution of primates and to shed light on human evolution. The study of nonhuman primates provides a framework for understanding the origins of human intelligence, technology, and culture, while also raising awareness of conservation challenges such as habitat loss and illegal trading.
Indeed, the question of whether nonhuman primates have culture is an important one in primatology and informs our broader understanding of human culture. Discovering cultural behaviors in other primates, like the transmission of knowledge and techniques within a group, suggests parallels in the early developmental stages of human cultural practices.