[dhs12345]

Good point. But what about their mates. Excluding childbirth, there were more risks for a male — fighting and hunting.

What happens when their mates die? And what are the chances that they'd be able to find another mate?

Assumption: early/pre humans were monogamous and an elder female would be able to find a new mate.

Seems the “tribe” would end up with a lot of elder females.

[PapaBear3625]

Assumption: early/pre humans were monogamous and an elder female would be able to find a new mate.

Strict monogamy is not seen in primitive cultures. The high-status men have multiple wives. Also, a widowed grandmother may be kept around as a babysitter in any culture.