ORIGIN: https://www.yourweather.co.uk/news/
Archaeological discoveries in eastern England reveal that early humans deliberately made and controlled fire 400,000 years ago, offering fresh insights into their intelligence, daily life, and the evolution of human behaviour.
Evidence shows early humans in England were deliberately creating sparks and controlling fire 400,000 years ago.Archaeologists at the Barnham site in Suffolk have unearthed stone tools and pyrite fragments that point to one of the earliest known uses of fire in northern Europe. Dating back roughly 400,000 years, these findings indicate that early humans were not just using natural flames, but actively creating sparks to ignite fires.
Tools and Techniques
The site has yielded an impressive collection of Acheulean handaxes, flakes, and pyrite stones. Microscopic analysis reveals that many flints were intentionally heated, exhibiting patterns of discoloration, cracking, and thermal stress. The pyrite fragments suggest early humans were striking mineral against stone to produce sparks, demonstrating a deliberate method of fire-making rather than reliance on natural wildfires.
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