In the beginning, it was man… and food. Humans began as foragers. Evidence of the use of fire in food gathering dates back to 170,000 years ago. A discovery refutes this: the first use of fire for cooking was discovered.
Teeth and more
Israeli archaeologists discovered the oldest evidence of human use of fire. And the results are a far cry from what was previously accepted. It turns out that humans of the species ‘Homo erectus’ knew about it a long time ago. How long? Thousands of years earlier than previously thought.
The earliest use of fire for cooking is described in a recent study. It was published in the journal ‘Nature Ecology and Evolution.’ Where did the vestiges appear? It happened in the Jordan River valley, near the Upper Galilee. Scientists found the teeth of a large fish. They were at least 780,000 years old. Something happened when they analyzed the enamel on the teeth. The researchers discovered that the fish had been cooked in an earth oven or boiled.
But it wasn’t just the fish teeth. Other evidence of human use of fire was found in the valley. This is the first study to demonstrate the importance of fish to early hominids. It was basic to their migratory route from Africa to the Levant, and beyond.
Knowers of fire
“It is a fact that the cooking of fish was evident. It was so for a long and uninterrupted period of settlement at the site. This indicates a continuous tradition of food cooking.” This was stated by Hebrew University professor Naama Goren-Inbar.
According to her, the results of the study are clear. “They only reinforce the conclusion that the locals could control fire.” It used to be believed that man began to use fire 170,000 years ago. But our ancestors never cease to amaze us.
