In The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human, author Jonathan Gottschall writes: “Story is the grease and glue of society: by encouraging us to behave well, story reduces social friction while uniting people around common values. Story homogenizes us; it makes us one.”
The earliest evidence of storytelling, especially the outdoor variety, traces back to the Lascaux Caves hollowed out in the Pyrenees Mountains of southern France.
Dating back to 17,000-15,000 B.C., historians believe the 600 paintings of mostly animals were inspired by “hunting magic” — a ritual practice by prehistoric people to overpower prey to foretell successful hunts. Experts believe the artwork displayed was the earliest form of communication before spoken word and writing took hold.
For the hook and bullet crowd, stories have united us spanning generations, geographic regions, socio-economic statuses, and changing times. Our outdoor heritage sustains itself by way of fish tales, hunting stories, and yes, even folklore. Without retelling these, our interconnectedness with wilderness and the creatures we pursue gets lost.
One project hoping to keep cherished hunting allegories alive is Blood Origins, a video storytelling endeavor led by Robbie Kroger. Their tagline reads: Every pulse has a story.
Originally published June 28, 2019. Continue reading at Sporting Classics Daily.