What kind of food did the San eat? A deep dive into a hunter-gatherer diet

For the San people of the Kalahari, who have one of the oldest cultures on Earth, plant foods gathered by women often make up around 75% of their total dietary intake, a surprising fact for a traditionally "hunter-gatherer" society.

Quick Summary

The San people traditionally sustained themselves with a diverse diet of gathered plant foods, including bulbs, berries, roots, and nuts, supplemented by hunted game like antelope and insects.

Key Points

• Gathering is Primary: The bulk of the San diet comes from gathered plant foods, typically collected by women.

• Hunting for Meat: Men hunt various game, from antelope to insects, providing a smaller but highly valued portion of the diet.

• Vast Botanical Knowledge: San women possess extensive knowledge of over 100 edible plant species, including medicinal and water-providing ones.

• Meat Sharing Tradition: Meat from a hunt is distributed communally, fostering social bonds and ensuring group sustenance.

• Seasonal Adaptation: The nomadic lifestyle is dictated by the seasonal availability of food and water sources.

• Resourceful Water Collection: In the arid Kalahari, San extract water from plant bulbs and store it in ostrich eggshells.

• Minimal Waste Philosophy: Every part of a killed animal is utilized, reflecting a deep respect for the sacrifice of the creature.

The San, descendants of some of the oldest inhabitants of Southern Africa, have traditionally lived a nomadic, hunter-gatherer lifestyle, perfectly attuned to the harsh but bountiful environment of the Kalahari Desert. This intimate knowledge of their surroundings dictated every aspect of their sustenance, from their hunting techniques to their deep botanical understanding. Rather than a static diet, their food intake was a dynamic process shaped by seasons, resource availability, and the specific ecosystem of their location. The answer to what kind of food did the San eat reveals not just a list of ingredients, but a complex and sustainable system of survival.

The Dominance of Gathered Plant Foods

For the San, gathered plants, known as "veldkos," are the most reliable and significant source of nutrition, providing the bulk of their daily calories. The task of foraging is traditionally performed by women, who possess an unparalleled and extensive knowledge of the local flora. Their botanical expertise allows them to identify over 100 edible species of plants, as well as those with medicinal properties. This critical knowledge has been passed down through generations and is a key to their survival in the arid environment.

A Rich Variety of Edible Veldkos

The gathered foods are incredibly diverse and vary depending on the season and location. Important plant-based foods include:

• Bulbs and Roots: A crucial source of carbohydrates and, notably, moisture, especially during the dry season. The bi! bulb, when squeezed, provides a vital source of water.
• Wild Berries and Fruits: Examples include the juicy grewia berries, which provide both tart flavor and liquid. The baobab fruit is also a prized food for its high fat content.
• Nuts and Seeds: Rich in fats and protein, these provide essential energy. The nuts of the mongongo tree are a particularly important staple in some regions.
• Wild Melons: These provide both food and a much-needed source of hydration in the desert.
• Mushrooms: Edible mushrooms are also collected and add to the dietary variety.

Hunting and Meat: A Valued, but Less Frequent, Resource

While hunting accounts for a smaller proportion of their caloric intake compared to gathering, it holds immense cultural importance and provides crucial protein and fat. San men are renowned for their tracking skills and persistence in the chase. A key difference from gathered foods is the social aspect of meat distribution: meat from a successful hunt is shared communally, reinforcing social bonds and ensuring that no one in the band goes hungry.

Ingenious Hunting Techniques

The San use highly specialized and skillful methods to hunt, showcasing a deep understanding of animal behavior:

• Poisoned Arrows: The San use small bows and arrows with tips coated in a potent poison derived from beetle larvae. The hunter tracks the animal, often for hours or even days, until the poison takes effect.
• Endurance Hunting: In this ancient practice, skilled San trackers pursue their prey, such as antelope, over long distances until the animal is exhausted and collapses.
• Trapping: Pitfall traps are dug at waterholes, and smaller snares made from plant fibers are set to catch smaller game like hares.

Hunted Game Includes:

• Large game like antelopes (including Gemsbok and Eland) and giraffes.
• Smaller animals like rabbits and various birds and reptiles.
• Insects, such as beetles, caterpillars, moths, butterflies, and termites.
• A highly prized delicacy is wild honey.

Water and Conservation

In the harsh Kalahari, water is a precious resource. The San are masters of finding and storing it. Besides extracting liquid from certain plant bulbs, they store water in carefully prepared ostrich eggshells, which are then buried to keep the contents cool. This reflects their profound conservation ethics, ensuring no resource is wasted.

Traditional versus Modern San Diets

Due to modernization, land dispossession, and contact with other cultures, the traditional San diet has shifted for many communities today.

Feature	Traditional Hunter-Gatherer Diet	Modern, Settled San Diet
Primary Food Source	Wild gathered plants (approx. 75%) and hunted game (approx. 25%).	Domesticated foods like maize meal, milk, sugar, and store-bought goods.
Key Nutrients	High in fiber, diverse micronutrients from wild plants, and lean protein from game.	Higher in refined carbohydrates, sugar, and saturated fat; often less nutritionally diverse.
Food Acquisition	Highly skilled foraging and physically demanding hunting.	Purchasing food, reliance on aid, or small-scale farming/pastoralism.
Food Culture	Strong emphasis on communal sharing of meat and minimal waste.	Traditional social structures around food may weaken as food becomes privatized.
Lifestyle	Nomadic, following seasonal food and water sources.	More sedentary, living in established communities or settlements.

The Cultural and Social Significance of Food

Food is more than just sustenance for the San; it is deeply interwoven with their social structures and beliefs. The practice of sharing hunted meat reinforces a spirit of egalitarianism and mutual support within the group, while the lack of sharing of gathered foods ensures the provider's immediate family is fed. Furthermore, the ritual use of every part of a killed animal reflects a deep respect for the animal and the environment, showing their belief in a profound spiritual connection to the natural world.

Conclusion: Adapting and Sustaining a Food Culture

The traditional San diet is a remarkable testament to human ingenuity and a deep, symbiotic relationship with nature. It is a system built on expert knowledge of plants and animals, demanding physical prowess, and underpinned by a strong ethos of sharing and sustainability. While modernization, land dispossession, and climate change have altered the diet for many San today, traditional food practices and the knowledge of the veldkos remain a vital part of their cultural identity and history. For more on the indigenous history of Southern Africa, explore resources like the South African History Online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is veldkos and how important is it to the San diet?

Veldkos refers to the wild plant foods gathered by the San. It is incredibly important, often making up approximately 75% of their traditional diet, and includes items like bulbs, berries, nuts, and melons.

How do the San typically cook their food?

Traditionally, the San cook their food, including both gathered plants and hunted meat, over an open fire, a central part of their daily life and gatherings.

How is meat distributed among the San after a hunt?

After a successful hunt, the meat is shared communally among the entire band. The hunter who made the kill has the right to distribute the meat, a tradition that reinforces community bonds.

How do the San find and store water in the desert?

The San are highly skilled at finding water in the dry Kalahari by squeezing moisture from specific plant bulbs and collecting morning dew. They store this water in hollowed-out ostrich eggshells, which are often buried underground to keep them cool.

Did the San eat insects and other small animals?

Yes, insects such as termites, caterpillars, and beetle larvae, as well as other small animals like tortoises and springhares, were a normal part of the San diet.

How has the San diet changed over time due to colonialism and modernization?

The diet for many San people has shifted away from traditional hunting and gathering towards more modern, settled food sources like farming, pastoralism, and purchased items such as maize meal and milk. This shift often impacts nutritional balance.

What is the cultural significance of food waste among the San?

The San traditionally have a minimal waste philosophy, especially when it comes to hunted game. Every part of the animal is used for food or other purposes, a practice that stems from their deep respect for nature.