Just some bad luck and a very random random number generator.
As a scientifically weak test I reloaded a game a number of times at 4,000BC. Sometimes I received a good balance of techs, units, armies, maps, settlers, and barbs. Sometimes, barb, barb, barb..... On occassion, only 1 barb, 2 armies, some spearmen, settlers and warriors.
The way it is now, the expansionist trait has been bumped up a notch.
Also post patch, it seems on the really big 250x250 maps, the AI's don't explore every single little black spot ASAP. So I'm finding more goody huts in the later part of the early game. Sometime quite close to AI borders.