Discovery of Ancient Fire Site in UK Rewrites Human History

The earliest known evidence of human fire-making has been discovered at a site in Barnham, Suffolk, dating back over 400,000 years. This groundbreaking find, which alters previous understandings of human history, was made at an abandoned clay pit located between Thetford and Bury St Edmunds. Researchers revealed that humans were creating fire approximately 350,000 years earlier than previously established, with the oldest known evidence prior to this dating back only 50,000 years in northern France.

Excavations at the Barnham site uncovered fire-cracked flint hand axes and heated sediments, alongside two fragments of iron pyrite. This particular mineral is known for its use in striking sparks with flint, and its presence in the area suggests it was intentionally brought to the location for fire-making activities. A research team, led by experts from the British Museum, spent four years conducting extensive studies to confirm that the heated clay was not the product of natural wildfires.

Geochemical analyses indicated repeated use of fire at this location, a pattern more consistent with human activity than with wildfires. According to the study’s authors, the controlled use of fire significantly impacted human evolution, aiding survival in harsh environments by providing warmth and protection from predators. Furthermore, the ability to cook food expanded dietary options and fostered social interactions around fire-lit spaces.

Dr. Rob Davis, Project Curator for Pathways to Ancient Britain at the British Museum, described the hearth area as a small campfire, roughly half a metre in diameter. Professor Chris Stringer from the Natural History Museum noted that the fires at Barnham likely originated from early Neanderthal people, although their exact identity remains uncertain.

“During this period, brain size was increasing to levels comparable to those seen today,” Professor Stringer explained. He emphasized the energy demands of the human brain, which utilizes about 20% of the body’s energy. The ability to harness fire allowed for the extraction of more nutrition from food, facilitating brain function and potentially contributing to evolutionary advancements.

While there is a gap of approximately 350,000 years until the next best evidence of fire usage, Professor Stringer clarified that this does not imply fire was invented at Barnham. He suggested that the knowledge of fire-making was likely brought by early humans migrating from continental Europe, utilizing a land bridge that existed at the time.

He further elaborated on the significance of fire for early humans, stating, “Having the ability to make fire provided insurance against adverse conditions. It offered warmth, deterred wild animals, and improved nutrition from food.” This mastery of fire likely facilitated social gatherings, storytelling, and potentially even the development of language, creating a crucial aspect of human evolution.

The findings from the Barnham site not only deepen our understanding of early human life but also underscore the transformative role of fire in shaping the trajectory of human evolution. As research continues, the implications of this discovery may further illuminate the complexities of our ancestral heritage.