From the womb to the tomb: The role of transfers in shaping the evolved human life history

Humans are the longest living and slowest growing of all primates. Although most primates are social, humans are highly cooperative and social in ways that likely co-evolved with the slow human life history. In this paper we highlight the role of resource transfers and non-material assistance within and across generations in shaping low human mortality rates. The use of complex cooperative strategies to minimize risk is a necessary precursor for selecting further reductions in mortality rate in late adulthood. In conjunction with changes in the age-profile of production, the impacts of resource transfers and other forms of cooperation on reducing mortality likely played an important role in selection on post-reproductive lifespan throughout human evolution. Using medical data and ethnographic interviews, we explore several types of common risks experienced by Tsimane forager–horticulturalists, and quantify the types and targets of aid. Our results illustrate the importance of transfers in several key domains and suggest that the absence of transfers would greatly increase human mortality rates throughout the life course.

► Risk is rife among human foragers, due to hunger, illness, death and conflict.
► Resource transfers reduce risk and adults age 40 + are major sources of aid.
► Spouses and close kin are preferred targets of assistance.
► Transfers reduce mortality rate and favor selection on post-reproductive lifespan.