DEMOGRAPHIC CONSTRAINTS ON POPULATION-GROWTH OF EARLY HUMANS - EMPHASIS ON THE PROBABLE ROLE OF FEMALES IN OVERCOMING SUCH CONSTRAINTS

The human population grew at very low average rates for most of its ex istence. Mortality was reasonably severe and expectation of life at bi rth was low. The level of fertility necessary to achieve even inifinit esimal population growth under such mortality implies birth intervals sufficiently short to conflict with the ability to care for and carry children in a mobile foraging economy. Techniques for the control of m ortality, especially of children before puberty and of women in childb irth, and of child care exchange, probably developed by females, may h ave been essential in permitting population growth under conditions of mobile foraging.