[bojan]

> the people living in them actually seem to have quite a bit of free time, yet obviously technological innovation has been quite rare.

I have to wonder if it is the people that have quite a bit of free time there, or men only.

I can see men having not much to do once they hunted and brought their prey. But if women are left with the task of preparing food from such completely raw ingredients, and also have to do childcare, possibly some gathering in addition, they don't have much time in the day left.