ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the evidence of traditional ecological knowledge during a time when human societies were organised exclusively as hunter and gatherer bands. This is an exceptionally long phase in Georgian history that began 1.85–1.78 million years ago with Homo erectus XE "Homo erectus" . These hominins showed clear signs of possessing a good knowledge of plants, animals, and rocks, which was improving throughout the length of their existence up to ca. 300,000 BP; Homo erectus improved his toolkit and started to use caves and rock shelters as hunting stations. Neanderthals XE "Neanderthals" appeared in Georgia after Homo erectus ca. 250,000 BP or a little earlier. They were equipped with better tools and were skilful hunters, especially of the Caucasian tur, demonstrating an effective knowledge of the habits and migration routes of this animal. Neanderthals existed in Georgia until ca. 40,000 BP, then were rapidly replaced by anatomically modern humans. These hunters were not only as skilful as Neanderthals, but were also probably better able to organise their hunting campaigns. Anatomically modern humans left behind artefacts with clear signs of symbolic thinking and, after the end of the Great Ice Age, progressed strongly in toolmaking (microliths, bows). The Mesolithic humans showed considerable gains in traditional ecological knowledge – leaving behind evidence of using medicinal plants and fibres of flax for making ropes, creating dyes, and starting to produce tools from new materials (obsidian, bones). Their hunting habits changed too; Mesolithic hunters organised campaigns to hunt bears, and these campaigns showed clear signs of ritual hunting. They also left behind petroglyphs with impressive hunting scenes.
