Hunt History

Early human ancestors—likely Homo erectus and Homo ergaster—interacted with Hippopotamus gorgops along African rivers. While these massive animals were dangerous to hunt, evidence suggests both opportunistic scavenging and organized butchery occurred. Humans used stone tools to remove flesh and marrow from carcasses, possibly when hippos were trapped in drying riverbeds or killed in ambushes at water sources.

Archaeological Evidence of Predation

El Kherba, Algeria (~1.8 million years ago)
Fossil remains of H. gorgops at this Early Pleistocene site bear clear stone-tool cut marks—the earliest evidence of human butchery of large aquatic mammals in North Africa. The presence of Oldowan tools suggests Homo habilis or Homo ergaster butchered carcasses, likely scavenging hippos that died naturally or became stuck in mudflats.

Kilombe, Kenya (~1.76 million years ago)
At this Rift Valley site, fossil hippo bones show flaked stone tool marks consistent with dismemberment and marrow extraction. Acheulean handaxes found nearby imply planned butchery rather than random scavenging. The hunters were likely early Homo erectus, who used fire-hardened spears and coordinated drives to exploit trapped or weakened animals.

Buia, Eritrea (~1.0 million years ago)
Large hippo remains from Buia exhibit impact fractures and percussion marks—clear signs of bone-breaking for marrow extraction. Associated Acheulean tools and human fossils indicate an organized subsistence strategy in which early humans targeted large semi-aquatic herbivores along lake margins.