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The Abstract

Scientists Discover the Earliest Human-Made Fire, Rewriting Evolutionary History

The discovery of fire-cracked handaxes and sparking tools in southern Britain pushes the timeline of controlled fires back 350,000 years.
Scientists Discover the Earliest Human-Made Fire, Rewriting Evolutionary History
Excavation of 400,000 year old pond sediments at Barnham, Suffolk. Image: Jordan Mansfield, Pathways to Ancient Britain Project
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Humans made fires as early as 400,000 years ago, pushing the timeline of this crucial human innovation back a staggering 350,000 years, reports a study published on Wednesday in Nature

Mastery of fire is one of the most significant milestones in our evolutionary history, enabling early humans to cook nutritious food, seek protection from predators, and establish comfortable spaces for social gatherings. The ability to make fires is completely unique to the Homo genus that includes modern humans (Homo sapiens) and extinct humans, including Neanderthals.

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