A groundbreaking study reveals early Neanderthals created fire 400,000 years ago at Barnham, UK—350,000 years earlier than thought—using flint and pyrite. Baked clay, heat-fractured tools, and repeated hearths exceeding 700°C confirm deliberate ignition, reshaping human evolution timelines
Archaeologists unearthed the world's oldest evidence of human-made fire at Barnham, Suffolk, dating to 400,000 years ago. Analysis of scorched clay, flint hand axes shattered by intense heat, and rare iron pyrite fragments—struck for sparks—rules out natural wildfires, per Nature journal.
Likely early Neanderthals, not Homo sapiens, mastered this skill amid expanding brains and northern migrations. Fire enabled cooking, warmth, predator defense, and social bonding, potentially fueling language and larger groups.
Key Highlights:
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Site Evidence: Baked clay >700°C; repeated hearth use; pyrite for sparks.
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Age Breakthrough: Pushes fire-making back 350K years from 50K France sites.
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Species Link: Early Neanderthals; no Homo sapiens in Britain then.
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Evolutionary Impact: Cooking freed energy for brains; enabled harsh climates.
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Preservation: Sealed pond sediments preserved fragile traces.
Sources: The Guardian, ABC News, Nature journal.