Final answer:
During the Upper Paleolithic, a new source of food was the transition to agriculture, including the cultivation of plants and domestication of animals. These changes significantly increased available caloric energy and allowed for larger populations and settled communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
New Sources of Food in the Upper Paleolithic
The Upper Paleolithic period marked significant advancements in human history, including changes in tools and food sources. A new source of food during this era that helped shape human civilization was the deliberate cultivation of edible plants and the domestication of animals. These practices marked the transition from a nomadic lifestyle to one that was more settled and could support larger populations.
Before this transition, human diets in the Upper Paleolithic were varied and depended heavily on the natural environments. People in different regions consumed a mix of nuts, fruits, berries, wild grains, honey, fish, birds, shellfish, and other animals. Fishing strategies improved with the invention of tools such as spears, nets, and hooks made of bone. Hunting techniques also evolved to include both scavenging and active pursuit of game. Smaller animals were typically targeted due to the ease of hunting them compared to large prey.
However, with the onset of the Neolithic Revolution, around 10,000 BCE, humans began a dramatic shift in sustenance by developing agriculture. They discovered the process of planting seeds to grow crops and began domesticating animals like cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. This cultural development was revolutionary as it allowed for an exponential increase in caloric energy, leading to larger families and a spike in population growth.