Day in Life 2022

In no more than 300 words, describe one day of your life as a primitive hominin about 1 million years ago. In other words, give me an account of the 24 hours of your day back then in what is today Columbia County. Send me your accounts via e-mail. I must have them in my mailbox by 11:50 pm Friday 21 January 2022. This assignment is not graded but it should serve to put you in the right mindframe of living one million years ago.

For example: I woke up with a start because I was cold because the fire had died out. I had slept too long and it was not yet light. I threw off the bear hide and moved away from my wife, thank goodness she had kept me from being really cold. I found the kindling sticks I had left out the night before and slowly fed them into the embers until I had a small fire going. I cracked open a few of the pecans we had gathered yesterday using the two flat rocks in my kit...

As I wake up it is still dark outside as I look over to where my fire was the night before all that is left are some smoldering coals. I awoke due to the chill of the morning, as I get up to go to my pile of wood that I had gathered the days before. As I build my fire back up others start to rise and move around. We get ready for the day, the day before we came across a herd of animals down by our lake and today we plan to try to coral them by the cliff while a group up on the top throws down some big rocks. If this does not work it back to the normal of gathering food. It is almost time to move on to the next location with the next big herd that comes through.

I woke up as the sun was breaking over the horizon and I felt like I hadn't eaten in days. I looked over to my once lit fire and put a few logs by the fire so I could build it back up when I returned. I then went to the nearby stream to get some fresh water and bathe myself. while bathing I noticed there were some fish swimming downstream and I made a note to try to catch some for my next meal. After my bath I found a good strong stick and began sharpening it for my evening hunt. I then went foraging for my favorite type of berries and put them in my leather sack to take back to camp. When I returned all my family was awake and I gave the berries to them to eat while grabbing a handful myself. Shortly after I went to the river. At first it seemed impossible for me to catch a fish using my primitive spearfishing method but after what seemed like an eternity, I had caught 3 fish. I gathered my things and the fish and made my way back to camp. I then rekindled the fire and set up the fish on cooking sticks for our meal. After the meal we all settled in for the night.

Long before the sun had begun to rise, I was awakened by the slight breeze that blew the warmth from the dying embers of my fire. Thankfully, I had guessed the morning might once again bring about the chill of late spring, so I had thrown the extra hide across my sleeping family the night before. I began to stoke the fire and add the kindling the children had gathered, and once the fire had grown and was usable, I threw some pieces of rabbits over to have breakfast ready by the time the others had awoken. I put the rest of the food back into its basket and buried it once again. That way, it would remain cool instead of warming in the sun. Once everyone had some sustenance and was ready for the day, we packed up our bedding. Everyone grabbed their handmade bags and set out to forage for the day. We worked as a family unit, which meant that while we were spread out, we were not far enough away as that we could not help one another. This allowed us to cover more ground without putting ourselves in unnecessary danger. It was well after noon by the time we headed back to camp. We had covered significant ground today, which meant it would soon be time to head on to the next campsite, where we would spend the beginning summer months. While the girls and I settled down to pick through and sort what we had foraged today, the boys along with my husband traded baskets for long pointed spears. Once the boys had returned, having caught enough fish for dinner, and two small rabbits I could use to make a stew, we all settled around the fire, enjoying the last few rays of sunlight.

It was 1,000,000 years ago. I was waking up by the sounds of the animals. I was waking up every morning this way. I then gathered the children and woke their father up to start our day. It was time for me and some of the other women to gather things for the day. I went down to the creek, and we all drank water as we did every morning. Me and another woman went out gathering nuts, berries, and wild fruits. While we were out, we came across some flowers and leaves. So, we gathered those as well. We started digging and looking for insects. Insects are a good form of protein. While we were out gathering these things. The men were out hunting for food. Such as deer and fish. By mid-day it had warmed up. So, we went down to the creek to bathe. The sun was high in the sky, so it was nice to bathe in the cold water. After that, the women started preparing the things, we gathered. As we prepared what we gathered. We waited for the men to come in with what they hunted. As they would clean and prepare the deer and fish. This was a perfect way to end the day in the life of a woman 1,000,000 years ago.

I was pulled from my deep slumber by the bright light that signified dawn. The light shined through the mouth of the cave that was my home, and I knew it was time to start my day. I started off my day by finding food to cure my hunger. I knew of a bush that contained bright, delicious, edible berries. I ate the berries from the bush then ventured out to the stream to find water and relief from the day’s heat. I discovered some fish in the stream, and caught them with my hands for this evening’s meal. After I was done in the stream, I took my fish back to my cave and went to find wood to make a fire. I was able to gather a few large, dry branches that I could use to create a fire. I lit the fire and cooked my fish over it. By the time I had finished my fish, the light in the sky had begun to dim. I settled back in my cave to get some sleep.

The sun crosses the horizon, its rays gently peering through the trees. The warm light washes over me, causing me to rouse from my slumber. This awakens my hunger, deciding it is time to hunt. Spear in hand, I head off deeper into the forest, searching for any kind of animal tracks, deer, boar, squirrel. Quiet yet steadily searching for any sign of where my next meal may be. Soon enough, fresh tracks enter my view, deer, just one, not far away. With the use of quiet movements and the foliage to hide me, I follow the tracks that lay before me. Not long after, the deer comes into view. A beautiful buck, leisurely eating, unaware of my presence. Carefully, I slowly close the distance between me and my target. Still unware of my presence as I draw within range, I plunge my spear into the animal, hitting a vital point. The deer runs away as fast as it can, but its wound will not let it travel far. I follow the fresh blood trail to where the deer lay, lifeless. My meal has been secured, and I shall live for another day.

It is right before sunrise, and my sleep has been disrupted by the sounds of slight rain. The constant hitting of water against the leaves that make up my shelter prevents me from falling back asleep. As the sun rises, and light becomes available, I take the opportunity to gather sticks in order to carve out a few sharp weapons for hunting and defense. With the sound of birds chirping in the background, I walk down to the river and use my new tools to catch fish for dinner. On my way back to my shelter, I stop and collect a few berries to eat late in the day. I spend the rest of the day gathering more sticks and leaves to better fortify my shelter. I can't allow myself to be an easy target for predators. Finally, I start a fire and enjoy my fish and berries. It looks like I survived another day. That means it was a great day.

The cold night air blew over me and my family. We all laid close together under a hide to keep warm. My sister and I got up to start our day and wrapped the excess of the hide closer around our two younger sisters. Our father had apparently gotten up before us, probably to hunt or fish. My sister worked to rekindle our dying fire and I went to gather berries before our father arrived. By midmorning, our father came back, successfully, holding four fish. He and my sister began cooking them as I woke the younger sisters. After we ate, the younger sisters and I went to pick berries and gather wood for the fire. I planned to teach them which berries were good to eat and which ones would hurt us. My father took my other sister with him to teach her how to hunt. He is getting older and will need help soon. The younger sisters played and laughed and ate berries until their faces were stained. Evening was approaching and our father and sister finally came home. They had killed a big deer. Excitedly, my sister and father began to dress it and cook it. I quickly cleaned up the dirty younger sisters and we all enjoyed a meal together. Afterwards, we watched the stars and our father told stories. I put the younger sisters to sleep and we prepared the fire to last the night. Then we laid close together to keep warm through the cold night.

The sun crosses the horizon, its rays hitting the beautiful mountains. The warmth of the rays causes me to arouse from my slumber. As I got ready from my day, I decided that I need to go hunt for tonight's dinner. I grabbed my hunting stick and was able to catch a fish. After that, I picked up a few berries off a mulberry tree for my lunch. Since I did all that diligent work, I decided to take a short power nap. When got back up from my nap, I decided to gather some firewood, and other items would make my shelter safer. Finally, I start my fire, and cooked my fish. I was glad that was able to survive another day.

It was just like any other day; my mom and I went to gather food and supplies. Dad was away hunting and fishing. We had a productive day as a tribe, the women did the gathering, and the men did the hunting and fishing. We had everything we needed today, each member of the tribe was happy and well fed. After we bathed in cool water from the very hot day, we got into our animal pelt PJ’s and slumber bags. However, it was dangerous at night, not just because of freezing weather but predators too. We were lucky that nothing happened tonight, the children had nothing to fear. Our tribe has survived the day, and as a tribal woman who loves spending her days with her mother gathering what we can find, I could not imagine a better day. When the men get home that is even better because we get to partake in what they kill and catch. After everything we had done the whole tribe celebrated with a bonfire. I along with my mother prepared everything that was gathered, caught, and killed that day. I as a woman one million years ago ended her day wonderfully.

With a stretch and a yawn, I wake for the day. There’s a chill in the early morning air. Our home is dark which can only mean that the fire I started before bed has dwindled to nothing. Even though it’s still dark outside, I must go fetch more wood so that my sleeping wife and child do not freeze. I carefully get out of bed, as to not wake them, and proceed to the exit. Not only was there a chill in the air but snow on the ground. As I approach our firewood pile, I notice we do not have enough to start and keep a fire going. Little Johnny must have forgotten to get some last night before he came in. Ugh. I have no idea how I am going to find burnable firewood in this mess. Nonetheless, I must still venture out and find some. If not, our home will stay cold, we will likely freeze, or die of starvation. I make my way to the woods in front of our place and begin sifting through the snow. At first, I found only small pieces of wood, enough to barely make a kindle fire. I take that back to the cave to hopefully dry while I look for bigger pieces. After venturing out what felt like miles, I finally found some wood that looked to be dry. I gathered as much of it as I could and began my journey back home. When I got home, I immediately began getting the fire started. Upon lighting the fire, I found Little Johnny and my wife awake. With fear in their eyes, they pointed towards the entrance. I turned and found a large man was standing at the door with a spear. Maybe I should have found wood somewhere else.

I watched as the glow of his skin from the fire in the night. Darkness was all around us. The air fresh and free, with the smell of veggies and fish cooking over the open flame. The fish we’d spent the evening catching with our spheres made from sharpened rocks, sticks, and animal hair. The veggies were a product of our first crops of the season. We had feared there would be little vegetation due to the drought, but after the second rain we finally had, crops popped up. I watch as his skin glistens in the light and from the sweat or his hard day’s work. His skin is all bare, except the skinned deer for his loin cloth. The hair on his head and face grows long and only his eyes beam through the thick, brown mess. In the morning before the cave was too hot we used blood and mud to draw pictures inside the cave. The weather is so unpredictable lately it’s either too hot to be in the cave or too cold to be outside. We’ve had much luck with hunting and collecting skins to make the cold more bearable as the seasons change. We don’t have many things, but we make what we need and that’s enough. We live off the land and lead a simple life.