I don't see how hirsuteness would affect things. If anything, wouldn't it make a curious creature more inclined to take a closer look at what's going on among all the hair, and while there in there anyway...

Carvings or cave paintings. Some objects with carvings done by Neanderthal people have been found, but they seem to have been more inclined to abstract than figurative art.

If I recall correctly (I used to do Viking age re-enactment, and close the season with the battle of Hastings), the Normans were without cavalry in the re-fight, since the safety of the horses requires a script. And we (I was on the Saxon right flank) didn't fall for their fake "retreat in disarray"

I swear half the middle-age men I know dream of having their own forge. Granted, most of them are already doing medieval reenactment, but even so. It's like how many men only care about cooking if it's a barbeque, and spend a fortune on getting one with all bells and whistles and accessories. 🙄

Welding and blacksmithing.

We usually had both a "living history" encampment showing crafts and daily life, and sweaty battles/combat displays. Not everyone had a dedicated combat tunic to change into. :-/ We would usually cook period-authentic lunch over fire and eat in kit as part of the display. You learn to eat carefully

I was doing Viking age re-enactment for twenty years in the UK. At multi-period events, I noticed that those in German uniforms - both WWI and WWII - generally changed into civilian garb, or at least changed out of coat and shirt.

In the UK, reenactors often stay in their kit after the "wimples off, glasses on" call, if camping on site. This weekend has the re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings in the town Battle, and pubs&restaurants tend to be full of Normans and Anglo-Danes. Generally without mailshirts and swords though.

Drink too much and be sick (only did that once): Moonshine and Fanta. Drink of choice the few other times I drank underage: semi-sweet white wine.

With search becoming unusable due to AI spam, a return to web rings is the logical solution. :-/