• Researchers discovered evidence of Neanderthals making fire in England 415,000 years ago.
• This finding pushes back the earliest known fire-making timeline by approximately 350,000 years.
• The evidence includes heated clay, fire-cracked tools, and iron pyrite.

Scientists have unveiled the oldest-known evidence of deliberate fire-making by Neanderthals at a site in Suffolk, England, dating back around 415,000 years. This finding shifts prior knowledge that the first use of fire did not occur until 50,000 years ago at a site in northern France, also linked to Neanderthals. The discovery was made at a former clay pit near Barnham, where researchers found remnants indicating a repeatedly used campfire, including heated clay, flint tools, and iron pyrite—this mineral likely brought to the site by humans to spark fires, as it creates sparks when struck against flint

This significant discovery demonstrates that controlled fire use was a milestone in human evolution. The ability to start fires provided warmth, protection from predators, and enabled the cooking of food, which is believed to have played a crucial role in the development of larger brains and social structures among early humans. Cooking helped with nutrient absorption, promoting energy conservation during digestion and supporting larger social groups, according to researchers

The findings from Barnham suggest that Neanderthals were not only capable of using fire but were likely innovative and capable of complex behaviors previously attributed only to modern humans. This also adds to the ongoing debate regarding Neanderthal intellect and social structures, as they likely gathered around fires at night for warmth, food, and social interaction, potentially influencing the development of language and culture

The methodical research conducted over four years confirmed that the hearth’s deposits, radiating heat from the occasionally used site, reached temperatures above 700 degrees Celsius (1,292 degrees Fahrenheit), indicating human intervention rather than reliance on naturally occurring fire. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about Neanderthal capabilities and adds depth to the understanding of early human behaviors, showing that they may have been just as sophisticated in certain respects as modern humans