Miles vs meals: the effect of distance on hunting decisions

Prehistoric central place foragers had to consider many factors when making hunting decisions. This study suggests that distance affects all aspects of a hunter’s decision-making process. Phases of the hunting process affected by distance include travel away from the central place, time spent hunting and processing a kill, and a return trip. Distance should be considered in light of terrain. It is expected that hunters would adhere to paths of least resistance. To explore this topic, research including an actualistic analysis of modern hunters and a GIS analysis using the Predictive Analysis tool was conducted.