HED4805
Assignment 1 2025
Unique #:149215
Due Date: 16 May 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, QUESTION 1
1.1 The Most Effective Hunting Method for the San People (2 ANSWERS
PROVIDED)
Evaluating the Most Effective Hunting Method
Introduction
Hunting formed the cornerstone of the San people’s survival strategies in
southern Africa. According to Seroto et al. (2020), the San employed various
methods, including bows and arrows as well as poisoning techniques, to secure
game. Each method demanded skill, strategy, and intricate knowledge of the
environment. While both approaches showcase the San’s adaptability and
ingenuity, poisoning emerges as a particularly effective strategy when assessed
for its capacity to neutralize large game and reduce direct confrontation.
Bow and Arrow Proficiency
The San’s bow and arrow method relied on careful stalking and proximity. As
Seroto et al. (2020) note, San hunters would approach prey within approximately
20 meters before releasing an arrow. This close-range technique highlighted the
hunters’ stealth and precision but presented a significant challenge: the arrows
lacked fletching and often missed the target. Even a well-placed arrow might not
deliver an instantly fatal strike on large animals like antelope, buffalo, or eland.
Consequently, the San had to develop exceptional tracking abilities to pursue
wounded game, ensuring that none escaped before succumbing to injury. This
method required acute observational skills and a deep understanding of animal
behavior, but an arrow on its own often lacked the power to kill swiftly (Seroto et
al. 2020).
Effectiveness of Poisoning
The use of poison heightened the lethality of an arrow strike. Poisons derived
from caterpillars, beetle larvae, plants, or snake venom allowed the San to
overcome the limitations of their simple arrow design (Seroto et al. 2020). Even if
the arrow did not strike a critical organ, the toxin eventually weakened and killed
the animal. This meant that hunters could inflict a fatal wound without needing a
perfectly placed shot. Tracking the animal remained essential, but the poison
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
Assignment 1 2025
Unique #:149215
Due Date: 16 May 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, QUESTION 1
1.1 The Most Effective Hunting Method for the San People (2 ANSWERS
PROVIDED)
Evaluating the Most Effective Hunting Method
Introduction
Hunting formed the cornerstone of the San people’s survival strategies in
southern Africa. According to Seroto et al. (2020), the San employed various
methods, including bows and arrows as well as poisoning techniques, to secure
game. Each method demanded skill, strategy, and intricate knowledge of the
environment. While both approaches showcase the San’s adaptability and
ingenuity, poisoning emerges as a particularly effective strategy when assessed
for its capacity to neutralize large game and reduce direct confrontation.
Bow and Arrow Proficiency
The San’s bow and arrow method relied on careful stalking and proximity. As
Seroto et al. (2020) note, San hunters would approach prey within approximately
20 meters before releasing an arrow. This close-range technique highlighted the
hunters’ stealth and precision but presented a significant challenge: the arrows
lacked fletching and often missed the target. Even a well-placed arrow might not
deliver an instantly fatal strike on large animals like antelope, buffalo, or eland.
Consequently, the San had to develop exceptional tracking abilities to pursue
wounded game, ensuring that none escaped before succumbing to injury. This
method required acute observational skills and a deep understanding of animal
behavior, but an arrow on its own often lacked the power to kill swiftly (Seroto et
al. 2020).
Effectiveness of Poisoning
The use of poison heightened the lethality of an arrow strike. Poisons derived
from caterpillars, beetle larvae, plants, or snake venom allowed the San to
overcome the limitations of their simple arrow design (Seroto et al. 2020). Even if
the arrow did not strike a critical organ, the toxin eventually weakened and killed
the animal. This meant that hunters could inflict a fatal wound without needing a
perfectly placed shot. Tracking the animal remained essential, but the poison
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
