Archaeologists have discovered remains of campfires in South Africa dating back up to 1.8 million years, attributed to Homo erectus. This finding pushes back the known date of controlled fire use by hundreds of thousands of years. For the public, the news reveals that the mastery of fire, a key element in human evolution, occurred much earlier than previously thought. The history of this technological advance becomes more ancient.
Primitive technology: how Homo erectus mastered heat 🔥
The control of fire allowed our ancestors to cook food, which facilitated better digestion and a greater caloric intake for the brain. It also offered protection against predators and warmth in cold climates. The evidence in South Africa includes ash and burned bones in sedimentary layers. This technical mastery, previously dated to 400,000 years ago, is now pushed back to 1.8 million years. Homo erectus not only made stone tools but already manipulated a key element for its survival.
Homo erectus: the first roaster in history 🍖
Imagine a Homo erectus sitting in front of a campfire, probably wondering if the meat was cooked just right. The finding suggests that 1.8 million years ago there were already barbecues, without barbecue sauce or hungover guests. Archaeologists did not find remains of folding chairs or beer, but they did find evidence that fire was used in a controlled manner. Next time you turn on the ceramic hob, remember: your ancestors did it with stones and considerably more danger.