Ancient humans survived with so little food by adapting to their environment and developing a number of strategies to find and store food. These strategies included:
* **Foraging:** Foraging is the act of searching for and gathering food from the natural environment. This was the primary way that ancient humans obtained food, and they were very skilled at it. They knew where to find the most abundant and nutritious foods, and they were able to identify and avoid poisonous plants and animals.
* **Hunting:** Hunting was another important source of food for ancient humans. They used a variety of tools and weapons to hunt, including spears, bows and arrows, and traps. They also learned to scavenge the carcasses of animals that had been killed by other predators.
* **Fishing:** Fishing was also a common way for ancient humans to obtain food. They used nets, spears, and traps to catch fish.
* **Gathering:** In addition to foraging and hunting, ancient humans also gathered a variety of other foods, such as nuts, berries, fruits, and seeds. These foods were often high in calories and nutrients, and they helped to supplement the diet of ancient humans.
* **Storage:** Ancient humans also learned to store food for times when it was scarce. They would bury food in the ground, or they would dry or smoke it to preserve it. This allowed them to have a reliable source of food, even during the winter or during periods of drought.
In addition to these strategies, ancient humans also had a number of physical adaptations that helped them to survive with so little food. These adaptations included:
* **A small body size:** A small body size requires less food to sustain it. Ancient humans were typically much smaller than modern humans, which helped them to conserve energy and survive on less food.
* **A high metabolic rate:** A high metabolic rate means that the body burns calories more quickly. This was an advantage for ancient humans, as it allowed them to extract more energy from the food that they did eat.
* **A strong ability to adapt to different environments:** Ancient humans were able to adapt to a wide variety of environments, including deserts, forests, and mountains. This allowed them to find food even in areas where other animals could not survive.
The combination of these strategies and adaptations allowed ancient humans to survive and thrive in a variety of environments. They were able to find and store food, even when it was scarce, and they were able to adapt to different environments. This helped them to become one of the most successful species on the planet.