Expert: Walter Hintz - 3/6/2006

Question
I'm currently doing a Palaeolithic-type diet and am doing very well on it. I'm now studying Palaeolithic habits such as exercise and sleep.  I was wondering if you have any detailed info on the average amount of time that our cavemen ancestors probably slept each day. Did they simply sleep from dusk to dawn before the use of fire, or did they probably sleep less than modern humans?

Lastly, a recent scientific study re fruit-flies showed that those whose genes had been altered to cut down on sleep had had shorter lifespans(by a third). Do narcoleptics(or those who seemingly only need to sleep 4-5 hours a day) live a lot less longer than others, by comparison?

Thanks for any info you can give me,
Geoff Purcell

Answer
Hi Geoff
I find this fascinating but I do not know much about the Paleolithic period including the sleep habits of the people. My guess is that they slept during the dark hours and had to spend the daylight hours looking for food.
 Studies have shown that sleep is  necessary for survival but the amount varies with individuals and with age.
 Just what is included in a paleolithic diet?  I would like to hear more about this.