Hunter-gatherer societies are often put on a pedestal as paragons of equality – but the reality is more complicated

Hunter-gatherers do not always seek total equality, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t egalitarian.

By: Duncan Stibbard Hawkes, Baylor University and Christopher von Rueden, University of Richmond, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: October 3, 2026

Words: 1,165

Last Updated: 1 week, 4 days ago

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By Duncan Stibbard Hawkes, Baylor University and Christopher von Rueden, University of Richmond

On the shores of Lake Eyasi in Northern Tanzania, a small number of people still hunt and gather their food. Today a Hadza hunter has taken down an animal – a kudu. He can’t carry it by himself, so he cuts his poisoned arrow from its flank, covers the carcass in dry grass to hide it from hyenas and heads home to …

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