When humans discover use of fire ?
Fires blazed the way for humans to evolve into the species we are today. Scientists suspect that without a control over fire, humans probably would never have developed large brains and the benefits that come along with it. But when did humans first discover how to use fire?
“That’s a tricky question,” said Ian Tattersall, a paleoanthropologist and curator emeritus of human origins at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. “Maybe the evidence for fire doesn’t preserve very well, and what we’re seeing is just the remnants of what was previously a much more rich record. But again, that’s guesswork. We don’t know.”
What experts do know is that around 400,000 years ago, fire started popping up much more frequently in the archaeological record across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, according to a 2016 review article in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. Experts consider these fires to be widespread, though sites with evidence are still relatively scarce.
At least two isolated sites show earlier humans using fire before 400,000 years ago, Tattersall said. For instance, at a site in Israel, dating back about 800,000 years, archaeologists have found hearths, flint and burned wood fragments, according to a 2012 study in the journal Science. At another site, this one called Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa, scientists found evidence that humans used fire about 1 million years ago, according to a 2012 study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In that cave, they found remnants of burned bone and plants and what appear to be hearths.
“Where the evidence is coming from in the site is really far back into the cave,” said Sarah Hlubik, a paleoanthropologist and postdoctoral researcher at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. “Even a landscape fire that’s sweeping around isn’t going to reach that far back.” In other words, there’s little chance that the data’s a fluke, even though it is isolated in space and time.
Though Wonderwerk is the earliest site where most experts agree humans used fire, in theory they should have been using it much earlier. Around 2 million years ago, the gut of the human ancestor Homo erectus began shrinking, suggesting that something such as cooking was making digestion a lot easier. Meanwhile, its brain was growing, which requires a lot of energy. “Where else would you get the energy from without using fire to cook food?” Tattersall told Live Science, referring to cooking meat and vegetables.
To back up that argument, Hlubik is looking for signs of ancient controlled fires at sites in Koobi Fora, a region in northern Kenya that’s rich in paleoanthropological remains dating back about 1.6 million years. So far, she has found burned bones clustered with other artifacts there. Burned sediment was clustered separately, suggesting that there was one area for maintaining fire and another area where ancient humans spent most of their time.
“At this point, I’m confident to say, ‘Yes, there was fire that was being used by people on this particular site,'” Hlubik said. “The next phase of the research is to then say, ‘How many other sites in the region also have fire evidence?'”
But not all experts agree with Hlubik. The fires at the site she excavated may not have been started by humans. It’s possible the evidence could stem from bushes that were torched by natural wildfire.
Whenever fire use did arise, humans’ ability to capture and control wildfires — or create fires of their own — had massive impacts on the species’ evolution. It probably lengthened life spans, made humans more social by giving them a place to gather around and, along with the invention of clothing, helped them move into colder climates, Tattersall said. Using fires also likely increased human cognition, Hlubik added. “The benefits from using it reinforce the cognitive gains that you’ve already gotten and then create more. Because fire is a complex thing,” she said. “You can get very hurt if you’re using it incorrectly.”
Originally published on Live Science. Tum
I am sure this post has touched all the internet visitors, its really really good post on building up new blog. Chryste Klement Wiese
This is my first time go to see at here and i am actually impressed to read all at alone place. Jenda Florian Horatio
You might have an incredibly nice layout for the blog i want it to work with on my site too. Glynis Hewet Mohr
Some really prime posts on this internet site, saved to bookmarks. Daryn Jessie Carnahan
However, with enough persistence, you will get better. Myriam Gasper Celina
Because the admin of this web site is working, no doubt very soon it will be well-known, due to its feature contents. Eba Josiah Germana
Quisque ut nisi. Cras non dolor. Aenean ut eros et nisl sagittis vestibulum. Guinna Frederich Julietta
Made in the Hawaiian Islands by Polynesians, it is played out all around by women, who wear astonishing pinnacle and skirts with lei structures. Lexi Adolpho Ratcliffe
There is certainly a great deal to know about this topic. I love all of the points you have made. Tresa Denney Sheridan
Yay google is my queen helped me to find this outstanding web site! . Sharai Eduard Cockburn
Hi there very nice site!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. Agnese Caleb Ruthven
I love this story! I, too, was fascinated by charm bracelets when I was a girl, and very covetous of them. Elicia Lewie Aili
I got what you intend,saved to fav, very nice internet site. Dominga Gregoire Lyndel
Enjoyed every bit of your post. Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged. Margy Lonnie Belita
A big thank you for your article post. Much thanks again. Coralie Lorenzo Embry
Some genuinely choice posts on this site, bookmarked . Brittney Evyn Treiber
Right away I am going to do my breakfast, afterward having my breakfast coming yet again to read more news. Lavinie Mateo Tammi
Great post! We will be linking to this particularly great article on our site. Keep up the good writing. Inge Judah Sidell
Well I truly enjoyed studying it. This information provided by you is very helpful for correct planning. Maryl Connor Hamo
I am really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Maia Sascha Hilleary