Discovery in England Reveals Humans Made Fire 400,000 Years Ago, Shattering Previous Timelines
LONDON, England — In a groundbreaking archaeological find, scientists have uncovered the earliest known evidence of deliberate fire-making by humans, dating back approximately 400,000 years. This discovery at a Paleolithic site in Barnham, England, dramatically revises the timeline for when early humans first mastered fire, pushing it back by 350,000 years from the previously accepted 50,000-year mark.
The excavation, led by a team from the British Museum, revealed flint hand axes, fragments of iron pyrite, and a patch of baked clay amid sediment layers preserved in ancient pond deposits. The presence of iron pyrite, a mineral not native to the Barnham area, strongly suggests that early humans intentionally collected it to strike against flint, producing sparks to ignite fires. According to the British Museum, this marks the earliest direct evidence that humans were not merely controlling natural fires but actively making them.
Geochemical analysis of the sediments showed heat levels exceeding 1,292 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating high-intensity, localized fires rather than wildfires or lightning strikes. The repeated burning traces found at the site imply that fire-making was a sustained and deliberate practice rather than a one-time event. Rob Davis, a Paleolithic archaeologist affiliated with the British Museum, remarked to The Associated Press that the findings demonstrate “how they were actually making the fire and the fact they were making it.”
This discovery not only rewrites the history of human technological development but also sheds light on the evolution of complex behaviors during the Paleolithic era. The use of fire played a crucial role in early human survival by enabling cooking, which helped kill pathogens and toxins in food, providing warmth in cold climates, and deterring predators. These advances likely contributed to the increase in brain size and cognitive abilities observed in humans between 500,000 and 400,000 years ago.
Nick Ashton, a curator at the British Museum involved in the excavation, described the find as “the most exciting discovery of my long 40-year career.” The Barnham site adds to a broader pattern of archaeological evidence across Britain and continental Europe that highlights the emergence of sophisticated human behaviors during this period.
For those interested in the scientific methods behind such discoveries, the National Park Service’s archaeology program offers extensive resources on excavation techniques and dating methods. Meanwhile, the Natural History Museum in London provides further context on human evolution and prehistoric life.
As researchers continue to analyze the Barnham site and related findings, this landmark discovery promises to deepen our understanding of early human ingenuity and adaptation, reshaping the narrative of our ancestors’ mastery over one of humanity’s most transformative technologies.
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