Animals and humans have coexisted since our early ancestors first emerged nearly 2 million years ago. Researchers have found artifacts from this time period, such as stone tools in the archaeological site Kanjera South in Kenya, showing the first tangible proof of ancient humans interacting with and hunting animals.
This symbiotic relationship between humans and animals hardly comes as a surprise when domesticated pets like dogs and cats are commonplace in the modern world. However, the animals that lived alongside ancient humans were less cute and cuddly and more fierce and deadly. As humans evolved, they learned to protect themselves by hunting many of these animals that once coexisted with them.
What Animals Walked With Ancient Humans?
Here’s a peek at some of the animals that walked alongside ancient humans and how these animals, which once ruled the world, slowly became hunted and turned into food, tools, clothing, and even art.
