These novel additions to past hominin lifeways were important, both individually and in conjunction with one another. For instance, hunting provided more opportunities to procure meat as compared to scavenging; it facilitated better communication; and being the first one to a kill meant less competition from large and dangerous predators, as well as hungry and potentially hostile neighbors. Additionally, more meat meant softer food, which allowed our faces and guts to get out of the way of our expanding brains. The advent of fire and cooking made the meat safer, easier to digest, and softer
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