Moderator: “To understand the origins of naturism, we must first explore our earliest ancestors. What did life look like before clothing became the norm?”
Responder: “For hundreds of thousands of years, early humans thrived in diverse environments without clothing. Evolution of Homo sapiens, and other hominins before them, was shaped by adaptation to surroundings. Whilst modern humans are often defined by their use of clothing, scientific evidence suggests that for much of human history, our ancestors lived without it, particularly in the warm climates of Africa where they first evolved.”
Responder: “Humans are unique among primates in their relative hairlessness. Researchers believe that this trait evolved as an adaptation to heat. As early hominins transitioned from forested areas to open savannahs, they developed an ability to sweat efficiently, reducing reliance on fur for thermoregulation. This cooling mechanism allowed them to engage in endurance-based hunting and gather food over long distances without overheating. Fossil evidence suggests that by the time of Homo erectus, around 1.8 million years ago, early humans had already lost most of their body hair and developed darker skin to protect against the sun’s intense radiation.”
Responder: While early humans may have remained largely unclothed for much of their existence, evidence suggests that clothing emerged as a necessity when they migrated to colder regions. Genetic studies of lice indicate that clothing lice diverged from head lice approximately 170,000 years ago, suggesting this as a likely period when humans began wearing garments for warmth. Animal hides and plant-based coverings would have provided insulation against Ice Age conditions of Europe and Asia.”
Responder: “As humans developed more complex societies, clothing and body decoration took on new roles beyond practical protection. Archaeological finds, such as ochre pigments used for body painting in South Africa’s Blombos Cave (dated to around 75,000 years ago), suggest that some humans may have adorned their bodies long before they covered them with textiles. Beads, shells and other ornaments have been found at Palaeolithic sites, indicating an early appreciation for self-expression and social identity.”
Responder: “Archeological evidence from Upper Palaeolithic (c. 40,000–11,000 years ago) includes over 200 "Venus figurines”, discovered across Europe and parts of Asia. These small sculptures (exclusively, of women) exaggerate breasts, hips, thighs and buttocks and may symbolise a widespread fertility cult. Distribution of Venus figurines aligns with regions previously inhabited by Homo neanderthalensis, but the figurines themselves are associated with H. sapiens. Interestingly, DNA evidence suggests that the interbreeding was asymmetric, i.e. male Homo sapiens mated with female Homo neanderthalensis. Some researchers speculate that the Venus figurines may represent a cultural memory or artistic representation of valued hybrid traits.”