La vie au temps de CRO-MAGNON - Homo Sapiens - Documentaire Préhistoire - MG

Tashar no longer has a choice. He will have to face these two bloodthirsty brutes. For this young Cro-Magnon, it is a question of life and death. Because he has experienced humiliation, exceeded his limits, because he has taken all the risks, faced all the dangers, and because the spirits accompany him, he can no longer go back. He must fight for his mother, for those of his clan, for those he loves. Yaline, I will find you. Tashar's honor is at stake. The moment of truth is near. This incredible story takes place 20,000 years ago. We are in

the South of France and life is in full swing in this Cro-Magnon camp. Cro-magnon is a fun little nickname. It comes from Mr. Magnon's cave. Scientifically speaking, it is more accurate to speak of Homo sapiens. When the first skeletons were discovered at the end of the 19th century, the name was given to the place where they were discovered. It is used for modern humans, the Homo sapiens of Western Europe, roughly dated between 40,000 and 50,000 years ago. And 10,000 years before Christ. Tashar is a 15 year old young man. He divides his time between his

mother, Latie, and activities well suited to his age. Within his clan, he leads a gentle and carefree life. I don't know if it was good to live in a tribe of Cro-Magnons 20,000 years ago. What is certain is that we are dealing with small groups of individuals who know nature extremely well, where everyone will know precisely what they have to do to ensure the survival of the group. In a group, there must be enough fit hunters to bring meat, enough women to gather and give birth, enough elders to pass on knowledge to the younger generation,

Enough children to the group can be sustainable. As the day passes peacefully at the camp, a few kilometers away, another member of Tashar's clan gathers fragrant herbs for the meal. Suddenly, noises attract his attention. In the valley, another group of cro-magnons advances slowly. The man is both surprised and a little worried. The clans live very dispersed and therefore have little chance of crossing paths. There were between 30,000 and 200,000 inhabitants in the entire city of Europe , which is extremely low since it corresponds to a city like Le Havre, for example, or Reims. Who are

these strangers? What do they want? The picker notices that they are very loaded. Obviously, they are moving with their tents, but they are moving towards the camp. The men practiced a little nomadism, that is to say they had a camp and they could move according to the seasons, for example, to follow the game. This Cro-Magnon man who would have lived in a cave, confined at the bottom of this little hole, is a completely false image. The watcher must quickly warn the other members of the clan. The news has the effect of a bomb. For Tashar,

this is a first. He has never met anyone other than those from his tribe. His curiosity is stronger than anything. When you meet members of a clan foreign to your own, you don't know who you are dealing with. Are these beings going to be violent, belligerent beings, who will wish you harm? To imagine prehistoric men as ecologists, pacifists, living in peace with each other is perhaps a little excessive. At 15, Tashar is still naive. He does not perceive the possible danger posed by these strangers. Fortunately, his mother watches over and forces him to take shelter.

If Latie is so protective, it's for good reason. Of her three children, Tashar is the only one she has managed to keep alive. In the midst of the agitation, a man of imposing stature struggles. Chaleg is a bit like the leader of the clan and he gives his instructions. In all human groups, there is always a leader who emerges because he or she gains the respect of others in that position. We have little proof. What we can think is that there were perhaps some families more powerful than others. As the visitors approach the camp, everyone

is on guard. The atmosphere is electric. A priori, Cro-Magnon is not a warrior, a conqueror who seeks to see the territory of his neighbors. We can imagine that on both sides, limiting aggression is the best survival strategy when two clans meet. A heavy silence settled over the camp. The two clans observe and judge each other. Everyone watches the other's reactions and tries to guess their intentions. The Cro-Magnons were not savages incapable of controlling their impulses, the violence that could inhabit them. They were people who tried to live as peacefully as possible. Chaleg did not sense

any aggression from his visitors. He will therefore trust his instinct. Everyone seems relieved. The tension has dropped a notch. Chaleg then invites the strangers to sit around the fire, as a sign of welcome. In a few minutes, a strange ritual is organized. Objects of all kinds pass from hand to hand. Everyone weighs things up, inspects them, and makes their comments. When two clans met, there was barter. These events are an opportunity to exchange goods such as jewelry and hunting weapons. During their numerous travels, The members of Tashar's clan have amassed a veritable treasure. By showing

all these precious objects to his guests, Chaleg is surely trying to impress. We can obviously exchange a lot of items. We see that there are materials and objects that have traveled. For example, shells that are collected on the Atlantic coast or on the Mediterranean coast are sometimes found in archaeological sites very far away. These objects would have passed from hand to hand from one group to another, which is quite likely. Tashar is overwhelmed. He has never attended a bartering session. He would really like to participate. But it's only for adults. Chaleg has a very specific

idea in mind. He absolutely wants to exchange his precious objects for women. Last winter, two women from the clan died. At least one needs to be replaced. It's a question of survival for the group. But only the youngest of them really interests him. We exchange women, we exchange children, quite simply to be able to regenerate the group's vital strength. We need to be able to have women to give birth. We need to have children to be able to ensure the future of the group. The negotiation is tight. Chaleg shows nothing of his impatience. He absolutely

must convince the other clan to give him this woman. When there were problems with epidemics or infant mortality, there was necessarily a sharing of women between groups and this was vital. Chaleg decides to make one last offer. After a short hesitation, she was accepted. Now he must refer it to Talu, the shaman. Talu lines up with the town of Chaleg. The young woman will join the community. We can imagine that exchanging women was a way of mixing populations a little to renew The genetic heritage, perhaps to have healthier children. It was all very, very intuitive.

Later, Tashar and his mother, Latie, are designated by Chaleg to welcome the young woman. It’s a matter of great pride. The newcomer is called Yaline. Tashar tries to reassure her. He is there to watch over her. For the first time, he was entrusted with an important responsibility. Latie is also happy and proud of this decision. Chaleg thus shows him a great mark of confidence. Even if Tashar and Latie have to Squeeze in a little in their tent, they happily welcome Yaline. So they can keep an eye on her. This small group will have to organize

itself inside the tent. It's not very big. They had to accommodate two to three people with a fire located in the middle or at the entrance to this small hut. We also know from archaeological traces that the interior was organized to be much more comfortable. We are going to install plant litter. On this plant litter, we will place an animal skin to make the mattress of the time a little more comfortable and then cover your body with enveloping fur which will allow you to face the freezing nights. After this trying day, Yaline wasted no time

in falling asleep. For the sake of my clan, I promise to watch over you. However, Tashar is far from imagining to what extent this meeting will mark his life. Two weeks have passed since the Barter session. Yaline has integrated well into clan life. She participates in all tasks without complaining. Tashar never takes his eyes off her, watching over her as her most precious possession. Today, Yaline and the other women of the clan are by the river. Everyone has their own chore and for Yaline, it’s about drawing water. Cro-Magnon man obviously needs wood. You can't have

huge stocks of water, so you have to be able to get supplies very easily. The budding complicity between Yaline and Tashar has not escaped anyone, especially not Latie, who seems to appreciate the situation and even have fun with it. This water was essential since Cro-Magnon will use it, obviously, for drinking, but also he will bring water back to the camps to be able to cook. But water must be transported. However, there is no ceramic. Pottery did not yet exist at that time. We know that they used pots, that they knew how to work them, sew

them, and therefore they could use Additionally transformed animal skins to transport water. I think hygiene had its place in this hunter-gatherer tribe. Water was obviously also essential to be able to wash as little as possible. If the clan does not lack water, on the other hand, food is scarce and everyone is counting on Mick Lee. Fast, agile, she is the best fisherman in the clan. In the river, Cro-Magnon will be able to find fish that are quite fatty, quite rich and which will be able to provide them with vitamins, omega 3, and finally, everything that

is good for health today. They were already consuming it. Barely feet in the water and already a first salmon. A nice catch that will make the clan happy. But to feed everyone, you need many more. We could fish by hand. It required being relatively quick and experienced in this practice. Other techniques could also be used. The assegai could really be used to fish fish and we could also make boats and even braided nets with which we could collect lots of fish. A woman crosses the river to pick berries. Latie is not very reassured to see

her move away. Today, we are able to know what the diet of prehistoric men was. Cro-magnon was not only A carnivore, he also fed on plants. It is an omnivore. There is a varied diet with fruits, and probably cereals. We can imagine that he was going to find eggs. They had the intelligence to use everything which was a priori exploitable in their environment. The chromagnon must have been eating well since we are here. If he ate poorly, he would have ended up disappearing more or less shortly. The tie can't help but stay on guard. She

knows that water points attract animals, including the most dangerous ones. And today she has a bad feeling. Obviously, when we drink, we are vulnerable. We don't pay attention to what can come from elsewhere. The predators are numerous. You can encounter hyenas, lions, panthers, but the king predator is undoubtedly the polar bear. Suddenly, she hears grunting. Once again, her instincts did not deceive her. It's a bear. The noises are getting closer and the animal seems very angry. We must get away at all costs before it is too late. You have to imagine the cave bear being

approximately 2.50 meters high when it stands on its paws, Which means that it is a particularly frightening animal. This time, everyone was able to escape the bear. But in the general panic, part of the fishing was abandoned. This evening again, Tashar's clan will not have enough to eat. The shaman is the only one who dares to brave the darkness. In this cave, spirits roam, but he is not afraid. The cave itself is not just an art gallery. What is certain is that the cave is a place that was disconnected from everyday life and when we

went there, it had a symbolic importance. The bear episode shocked everyone. A woman came close to being seriously injured or worse. The shaman will therefore thank the forces Of the beyond for having spared the women of his clan. When we venture into the bowels of the Earth, when we free ourselves from the darkness by the light of torches, it is never by chance. We can imagine that it is perhaps a place conducive to being able to communicate with something beyond, with the spirits. Some people had trans which allowed them to take sort of imaginary journeys,

to see the scenery move inside the caves. This is what we call shamanism. Talu doesn't just want to thank the spirits for their clemency. He must also and above all ask them for help. A very serious threat hangs over the clan. Food is sorely lacking. He, the shaman, must do something. The survival of his community depends on it. We know that among hunter-gatherer peoples of more recent times, in North America, Siberia and Asia, the shaman has a central place. Its role was probably that of protecting the clan by conciliating some sort of natural, divine forces,

so that the clan could find both food, but also protect itself from ferocious animals. Until late at night, he will call on divine forces. He is counting on their intervention so that the next hunt will be successful. The sun has just appeared and Chaleg has already been walking for many hours at the head of a group of men and women. He leads them near a river that he knows well, with a very specific objective, to hunt. Hunting is one of the most important activities and it is an activity that is not an individual activity. Often,

it mobilizes all the strengths of the group. They came all this way because Chaleg knows that a large flock of queens come to the same place every year. Depending on the animals being hunted, we will implement specific tactics. Maybe it's the chase, the chase, the chase. It seems that men had strategies and when they worked, they always repeated the same ones. I imagine the man must have observed other predators and therefore imitated their way of acting a little. Chaleg is an excellent hunter. He is skilled, lively and has a sort of sixth sense. He knows

the precise place where the animals will cross the watercourse. You have to know the territory, know where the animals will pass, where you can corner them in order to kill them. He settled in a strategic location, for example on river fords. And so, they will come there every year to kill the animals as they pass by. The clan trusts Chaleg. In return, Chaleg cannot and must not disappoint them. What’s also interesting about hunting parties is that you have to put some kind of strategy in place. He planned the entire action of the hunt, which proves

to us that Cro-Magnon was intelligent enough to think in several stages. The idea in hunting is to spend as little time as possible, to sacrifice as little energy as possible, to take as few risks as possible. Chaleg splits the group in two. On one side, the hunters, on the other, the touts. The clan leader believes that Tashar is still too young to accompany the hunters. So he will be with the touts. T achar is disappointed. But small consolation, he will remain at Yaline's side. The historical emperor developed effective weapons, which could be broken down into

several elements, so that they could be reused, because when the tip broke, it had to be able to be changed. Chalegg takes the lead of the group of hunters. Together, they move forward cautiously. Above all, the queens must not detect their presence, otherwise everything is ruined. The point was probably made of antler or flint or ivory. It was fixed with tendons and then glue or putty made for example by heating tree bark. The blades were quite sharp, placed on the assegais, so that the animal would be seriously injured and there would be no need to

pursue it for too long. On the other side of the river, the group of beaters, guided by Latie, sets up. The trap set for the animals closes. Women participated in killing the game, but it was not necessarily they who killed. It seems that throwing was more of a masculine activity. Latie, Tashar and Yaline must show patience, a lot of patience. You have to emerge at the right time to drive the herd back towards the hunters. The hunter who makes the kill would be nothing without the action of the beaters. The reindeer herd is exactly where

Chaleg expected it to be. Facing the animals, the group of laties will wait for an animal to put its paws in the water to give the signal. If the Cro-Magnon hunted reindeer as a priority, it is because it is an animal whose fairly gregarious behavior makes it quite easy to hunt. Despite the importance of the moment, Tashar is not very focused. He can't help but observe Yaline. He is certain, this is not the first time that she has participated in a hunt. Yaline, who taught you to hunt so well? Who are you really? Chaleg is

starting to find the time long. He's nervous, but he has to stay focused. The success of a hunt depends on the details. Prehistoric hunters were not going to engage in overexploitation of game. They will simply take from nature what they need. We should also not fall into the trap of imagining the Garden of Eden, that prehistoric man is partly responsible for the disappearance of what we call megafauna, that is to say large animals. . In Australia, Europe and America, the disappearance of these large animals more or less coincided with the arrival of modern man. The

queens did not sense the presence of the hunters. One of them comes forward and in a split second, Latie starts screaming. Frightened, the animals throw themselves into the water and, unfortunately for them, head towards Chaleg and the hunters. But nothing goes as planned. Most of the herd managed to escape. The hunters only manage to hit one queen. This evening, the group brings back only a meager loot. There is a site in which a queen was found which was hunted, cut up and cut up between different tents. Which means that the men shared the game when

they returned from hunting. If there were hunters from one of the tents who returned empty-handed, well the others passed them a piece or a few pieces of their reindeer. Everyone will eat. That's what's important, whether you're a hunter or not, everyone has access to food. It’s a group that is extremely united and no one is left out. The meat will quickly be consumed too quickly, but the rest of the animal will be carefully preserved. In reindeer, everything is good and the Cro-Magnons understood that very quickly. They will use the skins to protect themselves from the

cold, from the rain, to cover their tents. They will also use water and wood, which are particularly resistant in reindeer, to make tools and weapons. And they even use the viscera, which are quite waterproof, to make containers, gourds. So when the cro-magnons catch a reindeer, there really is no waste. In Chaleg's eyes, the incantations of Talu, the shaman, did not bear sufficient fruit. He would have liked to bring back many more animals. When bringing back big game, it is necessary to develop techniques that will allow the meat to be preserved over the long term. We

could smoke the meat, which will look a bit like our dried meat today. It can also be stored in large silos dug into the earth, because thanks to glacial temperatures, prehistoric men ultimately invented the first freezing system. Chaleg is worried. He wonders if he is losing his gift for hunting. But above all, this semi-failure could call into question his authority. This morning, Tashar keeps thinking about his mother. Since the episode with the bear and the perilous hunting expedition, he has been afraid for her. If something happened to him, he would be inconsolable. So, he made

a decision and when he sat down in front of the stonemason, he made a special request of him. There were people of varying skill levels. We found on certain sites objects that were moderately made, not bad, but not much better made. And we assumed that they could perhaps be young people in the process of learning. There was necessarily a transmission of knowledge, perhaps not from teachers like today, but in any case from adults who mastered a technique and who passed it on to children. Tashar carefully chose a piece of bone. He has a clear idea

of ​​what he wants to do with it. Make a necklace that could protect Latie from evil spirits. He needs the sign concepts of his mentor. There are different ways of transmitting, through the repetition of gestures, necessarily through language. For me, they had language, exchange and communication skills equivalent to ours. Alongside the old man, Tashar not only learns to sculpt and model. He also becomes more patient and more persevering. To make the right gestures, he repeats those of his model over and over again. Some stonemasons were so talented that they made objects that cannot be reproduced

today. They have become real engineers of prehistory, true experts in stone cutting. Imperturbable, the stonemason cuts his block of flint with an ease that commands the admiration of Tashar. If only he had his know-how. At the time of Cro-Magnon, we knew how to make around 200 stone tools and some even had different functions. There is the scraper which is used to work the skins, which is used to scrape the skins to soften them, and to remove the hairs too. Another common tool is the knife. It can be a simple blade and we have sometimes even

created a back, like on our current knives, to be able to cut and press your finger without cutting yourself. Tashar is a rather gifted student. But the arrival of Yaline distracts him. His mentor smiles, he says nothing and goes back to work. The sound of its striker, enough to call Tashar to order. There are at least two main categories of strikers, hard strikers which are made of stone, which are used to rough up objects and remove large fragments. What will revolutionize stone cutting in the Cro-Magnon era is what we call the flexible striker which is

made for example from Rennes wood, which will allow the edges of the blades to be cut more finely, for example, or to cut what we call bay leaves, which are very, very thin leaves in stone. These admirable objects are so fine that we Place them in front of a light source and we see the light through them. Once Yaline left, Tashar got back to work and the necklace that should protect his mother from evil spirits is progressing well. Cro-magnons make objects that they will need on a daily basis. But we also noticed that there are

objects which seem to be purely artistic. These objects are sometimes very finely crafted with marked aesthetic research. We found ornaments with bird feathers, with shells, wolf teeth, fox teeth. Tashar completed the talising. Latie's gift is ready. This desire to do something beautiful is the wish to do different things which are not useful, which are not essential, but which give pleasure. By giving this necklace to Latie, Tashar hopes it will make her invincible. Will the spirits prove him right? The sun rose over the camp. Almost everyone is already at work. Tashar gets up a little later

than usual. Immediately, he notices something abnormal. Yaline has disappeared. Where is she ? It is not the young girl's habit to move away. Tashar has a bad feeling. He goes looking for her. We must act quickly. He must find her before Chaleg realizes her absence. Was there really a leader who was elected or institutionalized? It's very, very unlikely. We can instead imagine that someone stood out from the crowd and that their decisions were accepted and validated by the rest of the group. Yaline! Yaline! Yaline! When Tashar returns empty-handed, Chaleg quickly understands the situation. How could

Tashar be so careless? If Yaline ran away, it was entirely her fault. Tashar accepts the reprimands without flinching. He is overcome by a feeling of doubt. Shalegh takes matters into his own hands and sends the clan members in search of Yaline. Tashar still wants to believe it. He hopes it's not too late. Living in a group means responding to standards, rules, codes. Going beyond these rules and betraying clan law can lead to sanctions and punishments. Despite searches, no trace of Yaline. The worst is then considered. Could she have been attacked by a predator or had

a bad fall? Yaline! The more time passes, the more we have to face the facts. Yaline has disappeared. This makes Chaleg furious. His trust was betrayed by Tashar. He was responsible for Yaline and he did not know how to monitor her. Tashar is unforgivable. When you broke the rules, especially when something bad happened , you had to suffer the consequences of your actions. Chaleg announces the sentence. Tashar is excluded from the clan. Around the leader, there is incomprehension. The sanction is very heavy, but above all, Chaleg made this decision alone, without consulting anyone, which is

not his habit. At that time, there was still a dynamic that allowed people to make joint decisions. In this group, there probably emerged men or women who had a certain charisma. These people can gain influence over others. Perhaps the elders also had more say than the others. Chaleg sets the rules. If Tashar finds Yaline safe and sound, he will be able to return to the camp. The tie is shaken. She begs them for clemency from the clan leader, but nothing happens. Chaleg remains deaf to his pleas. We can try to look at what is happening

in current nomadic societies and we can assume, a priori, as these are not very hierarchical societies, that these were rather collective decisions in which men and women participated. By inflicting this endearing sanction, Chaleg is aware of who is making him take considerable risks. The young man's life could be at stake. What is he trying to prove by imposing such a test on him? Latie cannot accept Chaleg's decision. She's so angry she could kill him with her own hands. When Talu intervenes to calm Latie, he also wonders. Tashar is obviously a good boy, courageous, skillful and

a future good hunter. What reason pushes Chaleg to act like this? Completely dejected, Tashar hastily left the camp. Without taking anything, neither weapons nor food. It is in the worst conditions that he finds himself facing his destiny. When Tashar finds himself left to his own devices, it is undoubtedly the greatest challenge he has ever had to experience until now, which presents itself to him. Will he be able to produce fire on his own? It's not sure. You have to be able to hunt and feed yourself. You also have to be able to protect yourself, cover

yourself, because you know how to work with skin. Tashar didn't have much change in survival, it seems to me, because many of the activities were collective. Tashar is far from imagining what he is waiting for, all the obstacles he will have to overcome and the dangers that will await him. It is the eternal rule, eat or be eaten. A man with no tusks, no horns, no claws is completely helpless when faced with a lion or a hyena. Suddenly, a noise. Tashar barely has time to hide. And then, his heart races when he realizes that it’s

Latie. The maternal instinct was the strongest. Latie did not hesitate to defy Chaleg's ban to see her son one last time. She gives him enough food for a few days, even though she realizes that it is very little. Loneliness is something absolutely terrible. When we are deprived of the support of the group, it means that we will have to fend for ourselves, in everything. Poor Tashar, if he does not find another human group to welcome him, he is doomed in the more or less short term. Latie asks her son for one last favor. She makes

him promise to meet Talu before leaving. The shaman did not appreciate Chaleg's attitude. He will not hesitate to protect Tashar from evil spirits. Latie is overcome by a wave of sadness when she sees her son go away. Will she see him again one day? Every minute of his life truly becomes a challenge to survival. Tashar resumes walking. He lets himself be overwhelmed by dark thoughts. Why was Chaleg so hard on him? It doesn't look like him. So he is personally angry with her? Talu is in deep meditation. The old sage is certainly Tashar's Last hope,

the one who can put him on Yaline's trail. But he is also close to Chaleg. So, will he agree to help the young man? Whether he is a sorcerer, healer or shaman. What is important is to observe that there are individuals in these clans who sometimes, through their great age and their wisdom, will be able to play the role of transmitter, of passer. Tashar is cautious. He does not know what welcome the shaman will give him. We can imagine that within a clan, certain people who had the confidences of others could Serve as mediators in

the event of conflict between several people. Ultimately, Talu shows no hostility. On the contrary. What Talu will give him is advice above all linked to his human values. Talu will pass on things to Tashar which may have almost a philosophical value, it might seem today, but which in fact are advice to help him grow. Tashar listens attentively to Talu, but he must face the facts, the shaman does not know where Yaline is. The young man believes that he can only count on himself. It's time to get going. But Talu holds Tashar back. He has something

to give her. This is what will allow it to hunt, feed and defend itself against predators. So his life depends on this object. This weapon is the only thing that can possibly give him a chance of survival. As we hit the road again, the questions give way to anxiety. He is alone now, truly alone. What Tashar does not yet suspect is that the adventure he is about to experience will make him someone else. Tashar wanders like a dane in the steppe. Confused, he found no clue that could put him on Yaline's trail. Torn by fatigue

and hunger, he must quickly recover his strength. But his attempts are in vain. We don't improvise. Expert in handling his watch, it is the fruit of a long apprenticeship which involves both observation and repetition of gestures. Weakened, Tashar lacks vigilance and neglects all the traps. But even the most obvious ones. Tashar's journey could have found a fatal outcome at the foot of this cliff. Tashar no longer has a choice. If he wants to survive, he will absolutely have to find something to eat. A few berries will do, for now. The advantage of the primate compared

to other animals is that it can see the color red, for example. So cro-magnon can see red color. I think this ability helps identify berries, helps identify fruits more efficiently. Tashar's tension is drawn to a vulture circling in the sky. This scavenger is not there by chance. He must have spotted the carcass of an animal. Instinctively, the teenager lets himself be guided by the bird. Tashar is determined. He will not let the bird of prey take away His chance to eat meat, even if it is a little spoiled. Cro-magnon was clearly an opportunist. He knows

how to grab his prey where it is. And sometimes carrion can provide a welcome treat. There is no need to waste energy to be able to kill the beast. This is further proof that our ancestors knew how to exploit the resources available to them in the best possible way. The need to eat pushes him to go for this type of easily accessible food. We gradually learned to hunt more and more beasts large with increasingly elaborate weapons. Tashar must act quickly. He must find the beast before the vulture. Motivated as ever, he succeeds in making his

rival flee. This hare is a meager spoil, but he will eat his fill and for the first time, he has managed to overcome this hostile nature. On the steppe, the sun is setting. Tashar pauses and wonders. Where could Yaline be? Then a doubt assailed him. What if she had left of her own free will? Was I wrong to trust him? Can Yaline betray me? Very quickly, reality catches up with Tashar. He absolutely must find shelter for the night. Finally, he locates a safe place where he can enjoy his first real meal since his exclusion. In

his wandering, Tashar will find refuge behind a large rock, a temporary shelter. He will be able to take shelter, which will allow him not to have animals coming behind his back. The first thing to do when choosing your bivouac location is to make a fire. Tashar has seen his clan members make fires dozens of times. So he knows exactly what he has to do. Today, thanks to archeology, we know that ancient men Had mastered fire for at least 400,000 years. So Tashar knows how to make fire. Tashar has two methods of lighting his fire, either

percussion or friction. He will opt for percussion, not two flints struck against each other, but a flint against pyrite which will be able to generate hot sparks. And then, we're going to take these little embers, we're going to put them on zou or dried herbs. We're going to blow on it and we're going to get flames. With the first flames, Tashar finds a glimmer of hope, a little comfort in this world of solitude and wandering. Our ancestors were the first to understand all the benefits of thermal radiation. It is not by chance that we always

find small circles of stones around the livers. These stones store heat to be able to release it better. If we look at the details of the technical capacities of these men of the past which we compare, for example, with mine, I would rather be inclined to say that a Cro-Magnon man had the same intellectual capacities as me today. The long-awaited moment has finally arrived. Tashar will be able to taste the catch of the day. Consuming carrion meat without cooking it is a real danger. Tashar knows that cooking the meat will protect him. Instinctively, men and

women will learn to cook meat, which will constitute a real shield against parasitosis or other intestinal diseases. Once satisfied, Tashar enjoys the warmth of the fire. This pleasant sensation that he had almost forgotten reminds him of twelve moments spent with his family. He misses the life of the clan and his mother above all. Man has become independent of the cycle of day and night. The man could stay up late and around the fire, indeed, we warm ourselves, we cook the meat and as in all human societies , tongues are loosened and we talk. We invent

songs, we invent stories, we create myths. He would give anything to get his life back. But he must admit, he doesn't have the slightest idea where Yaline is. He needs a plan. Despite fatigue, Tashar struggles to sleep. He fears once again that he will be assailed by nightmares, always the same ones. Since Tashar's departure, the complicity that existed between Latie and Chaleg has been shattered. The grieving mother carefully avoids the one who is the cause of her unhappiness. Aware of this uneasiness, Chaleg wants to try to work things out. Homo sapiens sapiens is a being

who resembles us. Although it seems distant to us, Cro-Magnon had feelings. They were sensitive men like you and me. They felt joy, sadness, guilt, pride. Things that are common to all humanity. Latie considers Chaleg to be a man unforgivable. No one could make him smile again, especially not him. He deeply disgusts her. When Chaleg tries to explain, Lattie can no longer contain her hatred and rage. He broke up his family. She's going to make him pay. It is possible that the camps themselves brought together extended families, but under the tent, one really gets the impression

that they are nuclear families. So, monopoly, parental or not, I don't know, but in any case small groups of people. The man, the woman, the uncle and the child. The uncle being the woman's brother. This is the basic unit of the family. The attempt at reconciliation quickly lives in Pugilat. In front of the members of the clan, Chaleg suffers another failure. The chief learns the hard way what a mother is capable of when her son has been taken away. In prehistory, no exclusive model. There must have been groups of individuals who practiced polygamy, others who

practiced monogamy. Some believe that humans are not naturally monogamous and tend to go elsewhere to have as many offspring as possible. This new public affront further weakens Chaleg's authority. He feels more and more alone. He begins to understand that Tashar's exclusion has done him considerable harm. For his part, Tashar has no respite and he has more bad encounters. Once again, he escapes at the last minute. Facing a thousand dangers, feeding on berries and carrion, walking miles and miles without seeing a single watering hole, Tashar is on the verge of abandoning everything. He has the feeling

that Yaline has disappeared without a trace. Unless, without looking at the eye, is attracted by a detail. Men passed by there. It's a certainty. T achard will call on one of the abilities he was able to learn from his elders, namely tracker knowledge. He will begin to observe small details everywhere around him, perhaps grass that has been trampled, broken branches, little things that will give him The indication of a passage which, for the moment, does not would not be that of an animal, but perhaps of several humans. None of his clan members have ever taken

their saga this far. How is it possible ? It would be thanks to this little piece of wood. What Tashar has just discovered is the thruster, a revolutionary tool that Homo sapiens invented 20,000 years ago. This instrument is extraordinary because it allows you to extend the strength of the arm, to increase the penetrating power of the weapon and the throwing distance. The propeller is for hunting, the rod is for fishing. When fishing, you will cast much harder and much further when you Use a rod than when you cast directly with the hook and line by

hand. With the propeller, it's the same, we have what we call a leverage effect. Tashar racks his brains, but he doesn't understand how to use this strange stick. For him, it's magic. What if these hunters were wizards? Maybe they are dangerous. He then remembers with fear stories heard at the camp, in the evening around the fire. It was said that men were endowed with incredible strength because they ate human flesh. Some tribes are known to eat Other human beings, probably under ritual conditions. Cannibalism was practiced during funeral ceremonies, where we took, for example, on the

deceased, a piece of his brain or his heart to appropriate both his spiritual qualities and his courage. Completely absorbed by this discovery, Tashar forgets all caution and does not see the danger coming. Quickly, his attacker gains the upper hand. Tashar is taken prisoner. Arriving at the camp, T achar expects the worst. They cannot convince themselves that they are simple queen hunters. If it turns out, this meat is a piece of man. Tashar will be fixed soon. He was gestured to sit down to share the meal. The wait seems endless. Beyond the base camp where the

clan can settle for long weeks, even several months, there are also temporary camps. From this lower camp people left to make bivouacs or to collect raw materials to make tools, to collect meat. These are truly hunting stops. We find a small fire, we find a few bones of a single animal. So there, they really only stayed for a few hours. Looking closely at each other, Tashar does not find them particularly belligerent. And this woman who prepares the meal Has the same gestures and attitudes as her mother. Hot stones were placed in a small pot container,

which made it possible to obtain a fairly hot liquid in which meat could be boiled, for example. And then, we put the food inside, probably plants harvested around us, a few pieces of meat, or even marrow water to give consistency to the broth. My imagination must be playing tricks on me. No, it's reindeer meat. Tashar quickly realizes that he is not a prisoner, but that he is the guest of his reindeer hunters. During the meal, tongues loosen. Tashar recounts his incredible adventure, but he can't wait to learn more about this strange piece of wood that

allows you to launch a saga beyond the hills. The hunters hide nothing from him. They reveal to him all the secrets of the thruster. There is no point in owning the thruster technique alone. We must help others to survive too. There is no shortage of game and the space is so vast that it can easily be shared. If we want to perpetuate humanity, we are obliged to accumulate knowledge and transmit it. For a few moments, the young man forgot his worries. An enchanted parenthesis that will not last. His meeting with the hunters sparked something in

Tashar. She gave him confidence again. Since then, he has followed the Yaline trail without feeling the slightest fatigue, as if carried by a new momentum. And then, one day, luck seems to smile on him again. He sees an object lying on the ground, a gourd. When a hunter goes on an expedition or for a few days, he is equipped with a water bottle. These water bottles made it possible to carry a certain quantity of liquid with you when traveling within the territories. You have to imagine sorts of tundras, gigantic grassy plains. There is no water

everywhere. And if he loses, it becomes a real danger for his survival. Tashar recognizes this gourd without a shadow of hesitation. It's Yaline's. This bottle didn't come across by chance. Tashar is convinced that Yaline intentionally left a clue. If his intuition doesn't deceive him, that means she's been kidnapped. By who ? And for what purpose? Only one thing is certain, she is in danger. The idea that something bad could happen to Yaline upsets Tashar. He is overcome by a new feeling. Would he have fallen in love? There is clearly an emotional bond that has been

created between Tashar and Yaline. This link can certainly be found at many moments of humanity for a very long time. What gives Homo sapiens its strength is this ability to open up to others, to go out and meet the other, which has given rise to crossbreeding which has not been only reinforces the diversity of the species. Will Yaline want to stay in my clan? How do I explain to him what I feel? The notion of crossbreeding is fundamental for the definition of humanity. This interbreeding will certainly enable the sustainability of human groups by providing new

biological traits. A question plagues the young man. Does Yaline share her feelings? When modern man came out of Africa, he probably had black skin, perhaps had somewhat frizzy hair and was quite tall. Then, depending on the climate and depending on crossbreeding, in Europe, the skin became lighter. It is these crossbreedings that make what we have become today. No more dreaming, Yaline must not be very far away. Tashar must resume his quest. And when he succeeds, he will demonstrate to Chaleg that he is now a man. Think about the leader of the clan, the Revuls. He

still doesn't understand why he was treated so harshly. A few days later, Latie's health deteriorated. She is weaker and weaker, as if the absence of her son is smoothing the eating away from the inside. Chaleg is worried to see her like this. The Cro-Magnon organism had little in common with ours. He was much more resistant, but still, he could catch illnesses, including intestinal illnesses which were linked to bacteria or parasites that could be eaten in meat. To be able to fight against diseases, the Cro-Magnons counted on the one hand On their own immune system, but

also on a very detailed knowledge of the plants which they used as medicines. For Latie, it's too much. His last strength is leaving him. Chaleg is the first to help him. Not only because he is the clan leader or because he seeks forgiveness, but because Latie means a lot to him, much more than we imagine. For Cro-Magnon man, there was probably this capacity to help and support the most fragile people so that they could live longer. We also have cases of disabled people Who could not have survived without the help of their peers. This proves

a rather remarkable solidarity of the group. Latie's state of health is truly worrying. Chaleg has no other solution than to call Talu, at the patient's bedside. Talu! Latie, please! Talu! The shaman is as close as possible to the forces of nature. He knows what is evil, he knows what is beneficial and he knows how to get the best out of it to be able to heal his neighbor. We can think that among the members of the clan, certain individuals had acquired medicinal knowledge. They knew how to provide care. Men had knowledge of human anatomy and

knew how to repair injured people. We have cases of fractures that have been reduced. Will Talu's powers be up to the task? From now on, Latie's life depends only on the shaman's incantations. Tashar has been respecting the way of finding Yaline for weeks. His patience and determination will finally be rewarded. Fumaroles, no doubt, there is a bivouac. Tashar moves forward step by step. Above all, he must not be spotted. Despite the darkness, he sees a woman. It’s Yaline. She is tied up and appears weakened. Not to mention that these two kidnappers don't look easy. I

have to get her out of there. But how ? The Cro-Magnon is a man, that is to say he is neither good nor bad. In some cases it can be very violent and in others extremely peaceful. The territory is large enough to feed everyone, so there is no reason for conflict. And the few very rare cases where we have individuals injured by weapons, it can be either hunting accidents or individual settling of scores. Alone against these two brutes, Tashar has no chance. Fortunately, he has an idea. To do this, he calls on his memories. When

hunting, Chaleg and his men managed to trap animals much stronger and more numerous than themselves. Tashar must act quickly. Cro-magnon never developed tools that would allow him to kill his neighbor. He's not a warrior. The strategies we will put in place to trap a man are the same as those we put in place to track down an animal during a hunting trip. Tashar spent the night preparing his trap. He can take action. Yaline's kidnappers behave like brutal men. To punish Yaline for losing her water bottle, he stops her from drinking. Tashar is drunk with rage,

but he contains himself. Above all, don't give in to your impulses, otherwise your plan will fall through. First part of the plan, attract the attention of the two warriors by provoking them. Either they are artificial traps that man himself has dug pits, for example, into which game will fall, or they can take advantage of the relief of large natural sinkholes into which mammoths or bison will be precipitated. The effect is immediate. He rushes without thinking. The rest of the plan plays out exactly as Tashar imagined. He leads his pursuers precisely where he wants them. Tashar

must not fall, otherwise the two brutes risk having no pity for him. As he approaches his trap, it is the moment of truth. The hole Tashar found is just the right size. He spares the lives of the two men knowing that they will not get out of there any time soon. Before they manage to escape from this trap, Tashar and Yaline will be far away. Captivity was a hard ordeal for Yaline. Tashar has to carry her and their walking is considerably slowed down. The young man is nervous. He wants to put the kidnappers at a

safe distance. The hole may be deep, but they will eventually come out and go after them. In the meantime, Tashar must take care of Yaline. He will be able to put to good use what the members of his clan have taught him. They knew their environment very well. This was knowledge that was also passed down from generation to generation. It's knowing how to recognize the slightest poison, knowing how to recognize plants that can heal you, which will allow Tashar to be able to help Yaline. The Cro-Magnons discovered that by chewing bark or ground leaves, it

calmed pain and fever. The road to the camp is still long and difficult and Yaline really needs to rest. Tashar is in a hurry to return, but he shows wisdom and therefore decides to stay by the lake. He takes advantage of this break to get to work. He has a very precise idea. Calling on his memory, he tries to reproduce this magical object that he has so captivated, a thruster. He will take the time. He will start again as many times as Necessary, but he will manage to make his propellant. By shaping it, he senses

that this discovery can change his life. And that of his clan. This thruster was often made of antlers, sometimes in ivory, and was a fairly prestigious object. We have some absolutely magnificent thrusters which are decorated, therefore sculpted. The end of the thruster on which ffix the assegai is transformed into an animal head, a fox head, a bison head. As Yaline gradually recovers, she notices that Tashar has changed a lot. He is more mature, more sure of himself. In every situation and every gesture, she now sees a man. Each thruster reflects the personality of the hunter

it belongs to. Since a hunter is sometimes superstitious, perhaps decorating him makes him more effective. Not everything is necessarily sacred. Men liked to personalize their weapons and tools. It could also be that. It's time to get back on the road. With Tashar, Yaline now feels safe. Yaline and Tashar have been walking for many moons. The girl is now fully recovered. As they approach the camp, the clan dog is the first to greet them. A calming presence. Before returning to his family, Tashar wanted to take a slight detour. Is there, near the cave. The shaman doesn't

seem surprised to see Tashar and Yaline again. If the young man wanted to see him first, it was for two essential reasons. He wants to thank him for helping and advising him. But above all he wants to gather the latest news from the clan or more precisely, to know what state of mind Chaleg is in. Will he keep his promise? Will he be able to erase the mistakes of the past? As usual, the shaman does not respond directly. Instead, he invites her to follow him. As he plunges into the darkness behind your Bed, Tashar discovers

a wonderful world he never suspected. In Europe, around 36,000 years ago, man went underground to draw on the walls. There are a number of depictions of paintings which most often feature animals. Not just any animals, there are a selection of animals in the environment. Bison, horses, queens and sometimes even felines. In certain regions, mammoths or even deer. Thanks, Talu. It is an honour for me. Tashar is dazzled by so much beauty. He takes full advantage of the present moment And feels the strength that emanates from this astonishing place. We see that everything has really been

thought through by the Cro-Magnons. They observed the walls, they tried to reproduce the equivalent of a movement. When you look at it a certain way, they used the roughness of the rocks to reproduce the volume of an animal. It was also astonishing to see what mastery they had with colors. Manganese, charcoal, ochres. Those who drew on the cave walls were professionals. We noticed, for example, that there were extremely similar styles from one cave to another, which suggests that there was a link between the artists. There were perhaps schools with styles that were perpetuated. Tashar admires

talu’s work. The shaman still impresses him as much. It is entirely possible that the caves were just the small tip of Lisberg and that in fact there was very abundant art outside. Since the 1980s, we have known that the cliffs were decorated with engravings. So, we have to imagine that prehistoric man lived in the middle of lots of images. Tashar freezes for a moment in front of the representation of a woman and cannot help but think of his mother. He can't wait to find her again. It has been so long. Humans are represented in another

form. We have the famous little female statuettes which are abundant. They are called the Venuses of prehistory. They are very recognizable, often very rounded, with a generous chest and strong hips, everything which is in some way similar to the sign of fertility, of fecundity. Tashar is not at the end of his surprises. Talu offers him a very strange ritual. Some caves are extremely difficult to access. The caves could be places of initiation where young children were taken to learn the history of the group and become adults. Talu will perform a sort of rite of passage

which will symbolize this moment. Tashar survived this dangerous journey and brought Yaline back safely. For Talu, he deserves to be honored. It is also a way to distract the young man's attention. Since he entered this magical world, Tashar has not asked for news of the clan, which suits the shaman well. In the meantime, the cave will forever bear the imprint of this extraordinary young man. Moved by this ritual, Tashar needs to come to his senses. Talu gave him no answer. He dreads the moment of finding Chaleg and facing the leader's gaze. However, he no longer

has anything to reproach himself for. He returns to the camp with Yaline. When they arrive there, Tashar and Yaline don’t understand. The camp is deserted. What is happening ? Where is my mother ? In the distance, the sound of a tambourine tears the silence. They used musical instruments. One of the oldest is called the round. It was an object that was swirled and which reproduced the sound of the wind. But they also used animal bones which they pierced to make flutes or they coated skins to make drums, giving birth to the first percussion instruments. Guided

by the music, Yaline and Tashar fall into the middle of a ceremony. It's a funeral. We have found a whole bunch of archaeological evidence which proves that the Cro-Magnons buried their dead or at least some of them. The bodies are buried in individual burials, but there are also collective burials and often facing the North-East, where the sun rises. There is perhaps even the notion of a cemetery which is already emerging at that time. Around a hundred burials have been found for the entire period. This suggests that there were other funerary practices, but which did not

leave traces, such as cremation. From a distance, Tashar can see the imposing silhouette of Chaleg. He's the master of ceremonies. When he raises a necklace with a few shells high towards the sky, he feels a shock. Even within these burials, there are disparities. We have tombs with absolutely incredible, extraordinary ornament, with a lot of adornment. Bracelets, leggings, sometimes ocher on the skin, tattoos, so many artifices which accompanied the deceased in death. This necklace is indeed the one he gave to his mother. And in the Earth, it's Latie's body. Without life. Tashar is devastated. Ravaged by

pain. Why you ? Why now ? Tashar is devastated. Latie probably left thinking that her son had not survived his exclusion. Powerless in the face of the young man's suffering, Talu resumes the ceremony. Ocher can perhaps symbolize blood, the vital flow, but it can also be something that we used because it has sanitizing properties. Tashar can't bear to see Chaleg lifting his mother's necklace. No longer able to hold it, he snatches it from her hands. It is up to him, his son, to make the offerings, but especially not to this traitor from Chalege who did

not know how to watch over his mother. A person who is buried with a lot of items is not necessarily a very rich or important person. Above all, she was a loved one. Tashar arrived too late. This gesture is the last thing he can do for his mother. We do not know if he believed in a divine world, in an afterlife in which the dead could circulate. We can assume that some of these objects could be, in a certain way, A guarantee of peace for the deceased who arrived in the afterlife. The music has disappeared.

Leaving Tashar alone to face his pain. Yaline's presence changes nothing. But sadness gradually gives way to anger. The person responsible for all this is Chaleg. He intends to make her pay. The calm within the clan only lasted a short time after Latie's burial. Once again, the lack of food is at the heart of the discussions. Chaleg advocates caution. He estimates that small game will be sufficient. There is no point in taking risks by hunting animals that are too fast and, above all, too dangerous. Tashar intervenes. He has the solution. With its piece of wood, its

propeller, it can reach any animal in complete safety. The hunters are perplexed. Chaleg doesn't appreciate Tashar's nerve at all. The leader is the one who is capable of making decisions, of establishing himself as a guide for the rest of the group. It's just an ability to lead others. It only takes one member of the clan to perform a heroic action for Him to suddenly be brought into the light and everything changes. But this role is not a function that is legally established or politicized. Usually discreet in this kind of situation, Talu intervenes. If Tashar claims

he can do miracles with his thruster, let him prove it. For the young man, the hour of truth has come. The teenager who was excluded from the clan no longer exists. Today, Tashar is a man. He trained hard to master the thruster. Thanks to this object, he is convinced that he has become a better hunter than Chaleg. The saguie can reach up to around 100 km/h and we can Imagine that we will be able to pierce the bark of a tree, for example. It radically changed hunting habits for the Cro-Magnons. Obviously, faced with a new

hunting technique as revolutionary as this , we can imagine that the clan is a little doubtful. To demonstrate, Tashar chooses a very distant tree. Chaleg can no longer stand the young man's arrogance. He was too lenient in accepting his reintegration into the clan. If he wants to make a fool of himself, too bad for him. Tashar has no room for error. He must prove to Chaleg that he is telling the truth, that his thruster is magic. Tashar has gotten into the habit of confiding in Talu. Since his mother's funeral, anger has been brewing within him

and he knows the cause. It's Chaleg. Because of him, Latie probably died of grief. Talu explains to him that Chaleg took care of his mother until her last breath. Nothing works. Tashar is hungry for revenge. The shaman feels that the young man is not listening to him. Within a clan, certain people, perhaps older people in particular, who had the confidences of others, could serve as mediators in the event of conflict between several people. How to avoid a confrontation? Others as long as Talu knows Chaleg well. His pride took a hit when Tashar demonstrated his thruster.

So, Talu plays his last trump card. He asks Tashar for a favor out of respect for him. Let him go to the clan leader in peace, because the answer to all the questions that Tashar asks lies around Chalef's elbow. Another enigma. Tashar loses patience. For a short time, Tashar put aside his resentment. He focuses on a new mission, teaching hunters the art of proper propellant use. Today, when a new object arrives In our daily lives, it always takes us a little ten years of adaptation to be able to master it. Well, 20,000 years ago, in

prehistory, it must have been the same thing. When the thruster arrives in Tashar's clan, it's a revolution. What made Cro-Magnon great strength was the ability to adapt, to change things, to improve its objects. Staying aside, Chaleg watches from the corner of his eye. He does not appreciate the importance the young man takes within the clan, even if he must admit that Tashar perhaps has the makings of a future leader. Hesitant, Yaline will find the right words for Chaleg to put aside his pride. The clan must remain united. Tashar is reluctant to share what he knows

about the thruster with Chaleg. But to please Yaline, he accepts. He takes the opportunity to stare at the leader's collar for a brief moment. What is Talu? It's up to you to make me understand. Seeing the chief grab his necklace, Tashar thinks he has understood where the tip of his assegai comes from. The two elements combined form one. So it was Chaleg's assegai. Tashar no longer understands anything. Why did the one he condemned also give him the means to survive? Talu's words then echo in his head. Chalegues was close to Latie and he always looked

out for her, perhaps more than the other women in the clan. So Chaleg is my father? Women know who their children are because they came out of them. Men perhaps have more doubts about their paternity. They are quite familiar with the link between the sexual act and birth. Now, did we know who the father was? That depends on the practices. Were women faithful to their mates or not? We don't know anything about that at all. Latie took her secret to her grave. Regardless of the truth, Tashar looks at Chaleg differently. His reluctance disappeared. For his

part, Chaleg is proud to be able to count on such a courageous, smart and determined man. Tashar is indeed the son he always wanted to have. Life returned to normal at the camp as if nothing had happened. However, many things have changed. And that's just the beginning. If Tashar could imagine what the world has become, he would be extremely surprised. Everything is so different, cities, industry, digital today, And yet what we are comes from Tashar's legacy. He bequeathed us an ability to adapt, imagine and transform the world around us. As for Tashar, if his experience

taught him many things about himself, it also gave him the desire to discover other horizons.