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How did Paleolithic hunter-gatherers obtain food?

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The Venus of Willendorf, a small Upper Paleolithic limestone figurine with exaggerated female features and textured head, displayed against a black background. — Paleolithic Period The Venus of Willendorf, a Upper Paleolithic limestone figurine originally colored with red ochre, 30,000–25,000 bce, found at Willendorf, Lower Austria; in the Natural History Museum, Vienna.

During the Paleolithic Period, humans subsisted as hunter-gatherers, relying on a diverse range of wild food sources. Their survival strategies were highly adapted to local environments and typically included a combination of the following activities:12

Hunting and Trapping: Groups hunted or trapped both big game and smaller animals. Over time, technological advancements—such as the development of the spear-thrower and the bow—increased the efficiency and range of hunters.13
Gathering: Contrary to some modern dietary theories that emphasize meat, archaeological evidence suggests that plants—including fruits, nuts, seeds, tubers, and vegetables—were often the primary food source. Gatherers also collected shellfish and insects.14
Fishing: Groups utilized fishing techniques to exploit aquatic resources.12

While labor was often divided—with men frequently hunting large game and women and children collecting stationary foods—these roles were flexible. Children often participated in group drives that pushed animals or fish into nets or enclosures. These foraging practices required extensive land areas, and groups remained nomadic, moving as local food supplies were exhausted.1