What Happened If You Were Born Weak in the Stone Age?

What happened if you were born weak in the Stone Age? Ancient humans lived in a brutal world where strength mattered—but prehistoric survival was much more complicated than “the strongest survived.” In this First Society episode, we explore how early humans dealt with injury, disability, physical weakness, aging, and people who could not hunt or survive alone. Archaeological examples such as Shanidar 1 and Romito 2 suggest that some prehistoric people survived serious physical limitations for years, meaning their groups likely supported and cared for them. You’ll discover how cooperation, knowledge, trust, toolmaking, childcare, memory, food sharing, and social relationships could make someone valuable even without physical strength. Were weaker people really abandoned—or was caring for each other one of humanity’s oldest survival strategies? Subscribe to First Society for videos about ancient humans, prehistoric society, survival, power, wealth, trust, cooperation, and the origins of human civilization.