The search for food plays a central role in human life.
Paleolithic people followed wild animals on their migrations to get their main food, meat. They also gathered wild herbs and berries as far as the barren landscape allowed. Survival depended anew every day on a successful search for food.
In the much warmer Mesolithic Age, the vegetation changed, the hazelnut spread, and wild animals such as red deer, wild boar and aurochs lived in the dense forests that developed. Fishing in particular became more important. There was sufficient food, so people no longer had to be constantly on the move.
However, they did not really settle down until the Neolithic Age. With the beginning of agriculture, people's diet changed and cereals became a staple food. Domestic animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs now provided the meat.