For about 60k years, between the cognitive revolution and the agricultural revolution, Sapiens was the apex predator of every ecosystem he lived in. People would move from pace to place, foraging and hunting a vast variety of plants and animals. They had the most diverse diet, didn’t rely on a small number of food products that would have exposed them to famine in case of collapse (like crops). Women had few children because they had to carry the younger ones and child mortality was not a challenge to the group survival: there were fewer diseases because they lived in small groups. People lived in tight communities and didn’t have to cope with the mental strains associated with long-term planning. Of course you could get killed by another tribe, eaten by a tiger or die from an infection. But your teeth and gums were healthy, you had the best diet, great overall physical health and people actually lived into their 60s.

Honestly it probably was a far more meaningful and fun life. Terrifying too, but super meaningful. The environment your brain evolved for. No old age horseshit, just a painful moment of death followed by your family mourning you. But no pictures or nothing, and everyone’s tripping on shrooms so you’re still there in spirit form. I’m joking as a reflex but I’m serious here. It was probably a better life overall. Seeing a worm and thinking of it as food, having no problem eating that little bastard because your stomach’s gnawing at ya. That’s life boy. Just raw dogging for all the jungle to see why the hell not. It’s prehistory baby. Anything goes.