Evidence shows that ‘they’ hunted with stone weapons but essentially ate fruit. Who are ‘they’?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Australopithecines
NCERT links each stage of human evolution with what is known about its food and tools. About two million years ago, a group of early humans lived in the East African grasslands; evidence shows they hunted with stone weapons but essentially ate fruit.
Option (1) Ramapithecus — Incorrect. Ramapithecus lived about 15 million years ago and was more man-like. NCERT records nothing about its weapons or diet.
Option (2) Dryopithecus — Incorrect. Dryopithecus, of the same period, was more ape-like and walked like gorillas and chimpanzees.
Option (3) Australopithecines — Correct. The Australopithecines lived in the East African grasslands, hunted with stone weapons and essentially ate fruit.
Option (4) Homo erectus — Incorrect. Homo erectus, about 1.5 million years ago, had a large brain of around 900 cc and probably ate meat.
NCERT Extract:
Origin and Evolution of Man – “… Two mya, Australopithecines probably lived in East African grasslands. Evidence shows they hunted with stone weapons but essentially ate fruit. Some of the bones among the bones discovered were different. This creature was called the first human-like being the hominid and was called Homo habilis. The brain capacities were between 650-800cc. They probably did not eat meat.”