Baobab: The Hadza of Tanzania and the Baobab as Humanity's Tree of Life

Preface
Introduction
Contents
Part I: The Baobab
Chapter 1: The Distinguishing Features of the Tree of Life and the Baobab
Baobab Description
The Tree of Life and the Kinds of Trees of Life
Biblical Trees of Life
The Edenic Tree of Life
The Heavenly Jerusalem Tree of Life
Representational Trees of Life
Botanic Trees of Life
Evergreens
Palms
Other Botanical Trees of Life
The Baobab as the Exemplary Botanical Tree of Life
Manifest Tree of Life
Ecological Tree of Life
Multipurpose Tree of Life
Central-Place Tree of Life
Inspirational Tree of Life
The Baobab as Humanity’s Ancestral Tree of Life
The Evolutionary Origin of the Baobab
The Baobab Tree in the Landscape of the Hadza
Chapter 2: The Hadza and the Studies That Document Their Use of the Baobab
Part II: Theoretical Framework: Societal Specialization and Bipedality
Chapter 3: Hominin Adaptation as the Development of a Gendered Forager Division of Labor
Division of Labor and Societal Specialization
Societal Specialization and the Hadza/Baobab Relation
When Did the Gendered Forager Division of Labor Develop in Hominin Evolution
Exchange in Hominin Evolution
Resource Transfer and Exchange
Exchange in Foraging Societies
The Importance of Exchange
Summary
Chapter 4: Bipedality as the Outcome of the Multidimensional Selective Pressure of the Developing Forager Way of Life
A Change in the Method of Food Procurement
Darwin and the Correlated Evolution of Handiness and Bipedality
Savanna Adaptation
Desiccating Climate Change
Why Did the Descendants of an Arboriterrestrial Ape End Up on the Savanna?
The Upright Advantages of Bipedalism
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Raymond Dart
Feeding Behaviors Leading to Obligate Bipedalism
Postural Feeding
Arboreal Bipedality to Terrestrial Bipedality
Physiological Adaptions and the Savanna Origin of Bipedalism
Bipedality and Tool Use, Weapons, and Other Kinds of Equipment
Carrying Things as the Selective Advantage of Bipedality
Food Carrying
Carrying and the Things Carried
Gender-Specialized Foraging as a Unifying Explanation of Bipedality
Summary
Part III: Material Culture and Technology
Chapter 5: Africa’s Premier Fiber Tree
Hadza Use of Baobab Bark Fiber
Cordage
Hadza Bowstrings
Hadza Bead Stringing
The Use of Animal Skins Versus Baobab Fiber
Summary
Chapter 6: The Baobab and Containers
The Development of Container Use in Hominin Evolution
The Baobab as a Container Structure
The Baobab as a Source of Handling Containers
Hadza Container Use in General
Baobab Resources That Generate the Need for Containers
Handling Containers as a Hominin-Specific Trait
Chapter 7: The Baobab and Fire in Hominin Evolution
The Three Key Moments of the Hominin/Fire Relation
The Timeline of the Human/Fire Relation
Fire-Benefiting Hominins and Other Species
Animals and Plants That Spread Fire
Hominins and the Spreading, Fueling, and Generating of Fire
The Hadza/Fire Relation
Hadza Oral Traditions and the Kinds of Fires They Make
The Consequences for the Hadza of the Fire Needs of Others
The Impact of Fire on Baobab Trees
Baobab-Initiated Landscape Fires
Lightning
Spontaneous Combustion
The Escape of Human Fires Associated with the Baobab
The Baobab as a Place for Human Fires
The Baobab and Hadza Fires
The Platland Baobab and Human Fires
The Baobab and Hadza Fire-Making Materials
Fire Drill
Multisource Fuel Tree
Fruit Pod Fire Container
The Baobab as a Reason for Hadza Fire Use
Summary
Part IV: Environmental Considerations
Chapter 8: The Baobab and Hadza Acquisition, Management, and Use of Water
Baobab Water Adaptations and Dispersal Strategies
Hadza Sources of Water
Water-Source Indicator
Water from Chewing Baobab Wood and Eating the Roots of Baobab Saplings
Baobab Reservoirs
Reports of Water-Storing Baobabs in the Literature
Mali
The Sudan
Southern Africa
East Africa
Hadza Management of Water
The Hadza Use of Water
Travel Efficiency
Settlement Site
Water’s Domestic Uses
Water as a Resource Environment
Water and Resource Production
Baobab and Water in Hadza Inspirational Life
Hadza Protection from Water’s Influence on the Environment
The Origin of Agriculture and the Use of the Baobab Water
Handiness, Material Culture, and Water in Hominin Evolution
Summary
Chapter 9: Baobab Seasonality
Current Approaches to the Seasonality of Hadza Life
Assessing the Seasonality of the Baobab
Baobab Flowering
The Time of the Year When the Baobab Begins Flowering
The Duration of the Flowering Period
The Seasonal Timing of Fruit Maturation
The Correlation of Flowering Duration with Ripening Duration
The Seasonal Timing of Durational Fruit Fall
Differentially Delayed Fruit Fall as the Source of the Baobab’s Extended Harvest Period
The Persistence of Ripe Baobab Fruits on the Ground
The Natural Storability of Baobab Fruits
Explanations for the Near Year-Round Availability of Baobab Fruits
Overview of the Hadza Seasonal Cycle
Summary
Part V: Hadza Baobab Resources: Food, Health, and Exchange Benefits
Chapter 10: The Hadza’s Preeminent Fruit Tree
Characterizing Hadza Dependence on Plant Foods
The Significance of Fruit Among the Staples of the Hadza Diet
Climbing Baobab Trees for Fruit and Other Resources
The Ways of Consuming the Baobab Fruit
Men as Providers of Baobab Fruits
Explanations for Male Baobab Provisioning
Wife’s Supplemental Provisioning
Baobab as a Weaning Food
Provisioning of Small Children
Convenience
Self-Provisioning Old Men
The Baobab’s Importance at the September–October Height of the Dry Time
Baobab and Children’s Productive Activities in September–October
Summary
Chapter 11: Baobab Beverages
Baobab Beverages Derived from Fruit
Baobab Thirst Quencher
Baobab Nutrient Drinks
True Baobab Milk Drinks
Look-Alike Baobab Milk Drinks
Baobab Smoothie
Other Kinds of Baobab Drinks
Baobab Flower Drinks
Baobab Coffee
Baobab Alcohol
The Bouye Drink of Senegal and Gubdi Drink of Sudan
The Hadza and Their Baobab Beverages
The New Superfruit and Baobab Drinks Today
Summary
Chapter 12: Africa’s Honey Tree
Hadza Sources of Honey and the Baobab/Bee Complex
The Honeyguide Bird
Hadza Honey-Collecting Equipment
Falling from Honey Baobab Trees
The Hadza Use of Honey
The Seasonality of Hadza Honey Collecting
Summary
Chapter 13: The Baobab and Birds
Birds in the Environment and Cultural Tradition of the Hadza
Birds and the Making of Hadza Hunters
The Ostrich: Notable Bird of the Savanna
Indicator Birds
The Honeyguide
Vultures
The Baobab and Raptors
Water Birds
Pelicans
Hamerkop
Storks, Ibises, Egrets, and Herons
Ibises
Herons
Egrets
Kingfishers, African Fish Eagles, and Ospreys
Game Birds
Guinea Fowls
Doves
Birds that Nest on the Baobab
Mousebirds
Weaverbirds
Birds that Nest in Baobab Holes
Parrots and Lovebirds
Rollers
Swifts
Spinetails
Hoopoes
Hornbills
Barbets
Woodpeckers
Swallows
Starlings
Birds and the Baobab’s Flower
Passerine Birds
Kopij (2019) and Passerine Birds Nesting in the Old Baobabs of Outapi, Namibia
Other Potential Baobab Associates
Summary
Chapter 14: The Hadza Diet and the Baobab as a Source of Other Animal Foods
Animal Foods
Invertebrates
Arthropods
Molluscs
Fish
Amphibians
Reptiles
Lizards
Snakes
Tortoises and Terrapins
Mammals
Rodents
Bats
Giraffes
Elephants
Rhinoceros
Primates
Savanna Predators
Ruminants
Fallen Baobab Flowers as Animal Food and Hadza Hunting Strategies
Other Baobab-Associated Mammals
Honey Badger
Wild Pigs
Baobab Materials for Hunting Animals
The Baobab and the Taking of Small Versus Large Animals
Summary
Chapter 15: The Baobab as a Hunger-Time Tree of Life
Distinguishing Hunger-Time Foods from Hunger-Only Foods
The Baobab as a Hunger-Time Food Source Throughout the Year
West Africa
Sudan
East Africa
Southern Africa
The Hadza and Seasonal Hunger
Tomita on the Hadza and Seasonal Hunger
Woodburn on the Hadza and Seasonal Hunger
Marlowe on the Hadza and Seasonal Hunger
The Hadza During the Period of Seasonal Hunger
The Hadza, Roots, and Seasonal Hunger
Chapter 16: The Baobab and Health
The Baobab’s Health Benefits for the Hadza
The Lack of Knowledge of Hadza Health Uses of the Baobab
Summary
Chapter 17: The Baobab and Exchange
Hadza Exchange Relations
The Baobab’s Exchange Value
Baobab and Tourism
Summary
Part VI: The Inspirational Value of the Baobab
Chapter 18: The Baobab in Hadza Inspirational Life
Difficulties in Understanding Hadza Inspirational Life
The Kinds of Spirits Associated with the Baobab
Trees and the Spiritual Dimension
The Baobab as the Cosmic Tree of Life
The Cosmic Tree of African-Brazilians
The Baobab as the Cosmic Wish-Fulfilling Tree of Hinduism
The Baobab and Creation Narratives
The Yoruba Creation Narrative
Sandawe Creation Narrative
Hadza Creation Narrative
Chapter 19: The Baobab as a Fertility Tree
Female Resemblances
Female-Associated Symbols
The Baobab as the Hadza Birthing Tree
Summary
Chapter 20: Other Inspirational Uses of the Baobab
The Baobab and Hadza Aesthetics
The Baobab and Hadza Oral Traditions
The Baobab and Hadza Recreation
The Baobab in Hadza Education
Summary
Chapter 21: The Baobab and Danger
The Baobab’s Destructive Vigor
Climbers Falling
The Danger of the Baobab’s Link to Spirits
Dangers Linked to the Baobabs as a Hub of Life
Summary
Chapter 22: The Baobab and Death
Disposal of the Dead in Hollow Baobab Trees
Baobab Cemeteries
The Baobab and Hadza Mortuary Traditions
Honey and Baobab for the Ancestors
Summary
Part VII: The Hadza and Baobab Regeneration
Chapter 23: The Baobab and Hadza Central-Place Residential Camps
The Baobab and Hadza Camps
Baobab Camping Environment
Baobab Campsites
Baobab Living Spaces
Baobab and Bedding
Baobab and Dwellings
Hollow Baobabs
Baobab Branch-Framed Houses
The Baobab and the Reasons for the Hadza Relocating Their Camps
Protection
Resource Acquisition
Trade
The Baobab and Rocky Places
The Seasonal Size and Characteristics of Hadza Camps
Summary
Chapter 24: Hadza Influence on Baobab Regeneration
Baobab First or Settlement First?
Settlement Vegetation
The Fate of Young Baobabs
Foragers and Baobab Regeneration
Origin of Agriculture and Baobab Cultivation
Summary
Chapter 25: The Hadza Baobab Retreat
The Hadza All-Purpose Baobab
The Fate of the Hadza Is the Fate of Their Baobab Trees
Summary
References
Index