The oldest evidence of how ancient people created fire has been revealed.

At an old clay quarry near the village of Barnham, the research team found traces of heated clay and several flint hand axes that had been broken by the heat, along with two pieces of pyrite ore.

Scientists have just discovered the oldest evidence yet of how ancient people created fire at a site in what is now Suffolk, England.

This discovery suggests that crucial skills in human evolution may have emerged hundreds of thousands of years earlier than previously understood.

At an old clay quarry near the village of Barnham, the research team found traces of heated clay and several flint hand axes that had been broken by the heat, along with two pieces of pyrite ore – a mineral that produces sparks when struck against flint.

According to the archaeological team, the ancient people here must have brought pyrite with them to actively create fire. If this is true, the period when humans created fire is pushed back to about 415,000 years, compared to the 50,000-year-old evidence found in France, which was previously considered the oldest.

The ability to control fire is considered a crucial milestone in human evolution. Fire not only helped cook food and protect against predators, but also provided heat for hunter-gatherer groups to survive in colder regions, such as in England.

Cooking food helps eliminate pathogens and toxins from meat, root vegetables, and tubers; it also makes food softer, easier to digest, and releases energy for brain development.

Furthermore, fire also plays a role in social evolution. Nighttime campfires provide spaces for gathering, communication, storytelling, and the development of language and belief systems.

Stratigraphic analysis and surrounding archaeological findings suggest that the creators of the Barnham fire pits were most likely early Neanderthals – close relatives of modern humans. While no human fossils were found on-site, evidence from less than 160km away indicates that Neanderthals inhabited the area during a similar period.

Evidence from Africa also suggests that, more than a million years ago, humans used natural fires from forest fires or lightning strikes, but there is no evidence that they created fire themselves.

Researchers spent four years meticulously examining the Barnham fire trail to confirm that it was man-made, with geochemical tests showing the fire was deliberately started, evidence of the soil being heated to over 700°C, and repeated traces of fire use in the same location.

This discovery not only sheds light on the intelligence and ingenuity of Neanderthals, but also expands our understanding of key milestones in human evolution.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/he-lo-bang-chung-lau-doi-nhat-ve-cach-nguoi-co-dai-tao-ra-lua-post1082541.vnp