Humans have been making fire for much longer than we once thought—about 400,000 years ago. This revelation came from a fascinating discovery in Barnham, Suffolk. Previously, the oldest clear evidence of human-made fires was from a site in northern France, dating back just 50,000 years.
The new findings include burned earth and tools that hint at fire-making practices much earlier in human history. Dr. Rob Davis, a Palaeolithic archaeologist with the British Museum, emphasized how crucial this skill was for humanity. “Creating and controlling fire marked a major turning point, impacting both our survival and social structures,” he explained.
Interestingly, these fire-makers were likely early Neanderthals. Homo sapiens, our direct ancestors, began living outside Africa only about 100,000 years ago. This suggests that while our species was developing in Africa, Neanderthals in Europe were already harnessing fire.
Professor Chris Stringer from the Natural History Museum noted the significance of fire in the evolution of human capabilities. He mentioned that controlling fire could have facilitated the rise of language and helped humans thrive in colder climates. Fire provided warmth, protection, and a way to cook food, which would have been essential for survival.
The site of this discovery was a clay pit that has been of interest to scientists for over a century. It was revisited in 2013 as part of the Pathways to Ancient Britain project. Researchers found interesting clues, like iron pyrite fragments, which can spark when struck against flint. This rare mineral suggests that these early Neanderthals had a good understanding of tools and materials.
The findings have caught the attention of experts. Ségolène Vandevelde, an archaeologist not directly involved in the study, praised the research, saying it provides convincing evidence of early fire-making. This suggests that the ability to start fires may extend back even further in history.
In a nutshell, these discoveries challenge the way we understand early human life and set the stage for future research. The mastery of fire, it seems, was not just a practical skill—it played a critical role in shaping what it meant to be human.
For more in-depth insights, you can read about the research published in Nature.
