News|HistoryOldest evidence of deliberate fire use found in EnglandHumans may have made fire 350,000 years earlier than previously thought, scientists say.
Researchers have discovered the earliest-known evidence of deliberate fire-making by prehistoric humans in Suffolk, Britain. This finding indicates that such activities occurred approximately 350,000 years earlier than previously believed.
Researchers have discovered the earliest-known evidence of deliberate fire-making by prehistoric humans in Suffolk, Britain. This finding indicates that such activities occurred approximately 350,000 years earlier than previously believed.
The site, a former clay pit near Barnham village, contains a hearth constructed by Neanderthals approximately 415,000 years ago. Previously, the earliest evidence of human fire-making was dated to around 50,000 years ago in northern France.
The archaeological team identified remnants of a repeatedly used campfire, which included heated clay, flint tools fractured by intense heat, and two pieces of iron pyrite. Iron pyrite can produce sparks when struck against flint, facilitating the ignition of tinder.
According to Nick Ashton, an archaeologist and curator of Palaeolithic Collections at the British Museum, the presence of pyrite suggests that early humans intentionally brought it to the site for fire-making purposes. This discovery significantly extends the timeline for the known use of controlled fire.
Researchers have discovered the earliest-known evidence of deliberate fire-making by prehistoric humans in Suffolk, Britain.
The ability to control fire marked a pivotal development in human evolution. It enabled ancient hunter-gatherers to inhabit colder regions, cook food, and deter predators. Cooking facilitated greater energy extraction from meat, roots, and tubers, contributing to brain development and supporting larger communities.
Fire also likely transformed social interactions, providing warmth, light, and a communal gathering point for sharing food and conversation. This may have encouraged storytelling, the development of language, and the formation of cultural beliefs.
The evidence from Barnham demonstrates repeated fire use at temperatures exceeding 700 degrees Celsius (1,292 degrees Fahrenheit), indicating deliberate fire-starting methods. The research team undertook extensive testing over four years to validate the age and human origin of the hearth.
This discovery suggests that Neanderthals, along with other related groups such as the Denisovans, possessed advanced survival skills earlier than previously thought, challenging existing perceptions of their innovativeness.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.