First Fire

The control and use of fire is one of the tools that sets humans apart from other animals. But exactly when our ancestors began building a blaze and cooking meals has long been a mystery. Nature News explains why:

…evidence of burning, such as ash and charcoal, is easily destroyed by wind and rain. And even when such remains are found, determining whether the fire was natural or human-made is tricky.

But now researchers, publishing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, believe they have solved the case. Microscopic traces of wood ash, alongside animal bones and stone tools, were found in a layer dated to one million years ago at the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa.

“The analysis pushes the timing for the human use of fire back by 300,000 years, suggesting that human ancestors as early as Homo erectus may have begun using fire as part of their way of life,” explains study co-author Michael Chazan of the University of Toronto.



Analysis of sediment revealed ashed plant remains and burned bone fragments, both of which appear to have been burned locally rather than carried into the cave by wind or water. The researchers also found extensive evidence of surface discoloration that is typical of burning.

“The control of fire would have been a major turning point in human evolution,” said Chazan. “The impact of cooking food is well-documented, but the impact of control over fire would have touched all elements of human society.

“Socializing around a camp fire might actually be an essential aspect of what makes us human.”

Wonderwerk Cave image: R. Yates