The idea that humans in the Stone Age had "seemingly unlimited time" to create giant monuments is a misconception. In reality, the construction of large monuments and structures in the Stone Age required a significant amount of time, effort, and coordination from the communities involved. The notion of these ancient people having vast amounts of leisure time is not accurate.
Hunter-Gatherer Lifestyle: During the Stone Age, most human societies were hunter-gatherers. Their primary focus was on finding food, hunting game, gathering fruits, vegetables, and other resources from their environment. These activities were essential for their survival, and they would have spent a considerable amount of time each day on these tasks.
Seasonal Cycles: Hunter-gatherers' activities were often influenced by seasonal changes, migration patterns of animals, and the availability of different food sources throughout the year. This would have dictated their movement and resource-gathering strategies.
Nomadic Lifestyle: Many Stone Age societies were nomadic, meaning they didn't stay in one place for extended periods. They followed the availability of resources, which required frequent relocation of their settlements.
Limited Population Size: The population of Stone Age communities was relatively small compared to modern societies. The workforce available for monument-building projects would have been limited.
Communal Efforts: The construction of giant monuments would have required communal efforts, where individuals came together to work on these projects. This meant that other essential tasks, such as food gathering and shelter construction, had to be balanced with the monument-building activities.
Long-Term Endeavors: Monument construction would have been ongoing efforts that spanned years or even generations. These projects were likely not completed in a short period, and they might have been integrated into the culture and spiritual practices of these societies.
Social and Cultural Significance: Giant monuments often had symbolic, religious, or cultural significance for Stone Age communities. They might have been markers of important locations, burial sites, or used in rituals and ceremonies.
It's essential to avoid projecting modern concepts of time management and productivity onto ancient societies. While these monuments are remarkable achievements that continue to fascinate us today, they were likely the result of complex cultural, religious, and social factors, rather than humans having vast amounts of leisure time. Monument-building was just one aspect of their lives alongside other essential activities related to survival, community, and culture.