A team of archaeologists has unearthed evidence that Neanderthals were able to start and control their own fires around 400,000 years ago in what is now Suffolk, England. The discovery was made at the Barnham site, an abandoned clay pit where workers first discovered stone tools in the early 1900s.
The researchers found heat-reddened clay and fragments of pyrite, a mineral that can be used to create sparks when struck against flint. This suggests that Neanderthals were able to make fire at their campsites, rather than just taking advantage of nearby wildfires.
To confirm this theory, the team conducted experiments using clay from the site and simulated fires in a controlled environment. The results showed that the baked clay from Barnham matched the characteristics of clay that had been exposed to multiple heating events over several hours.
The discovery pushes back our understanding of when humans first learned to control fire, which is believed to have revolutionized human life by providing warmth, light, and a way to cook food. It also suggests that Neanderthals were able to adapt and innovate in their environment, making them one of the most successful species to ever inhabit the Earth.
The team's findings are significant not only for their insight into ancient human behavior but also for their implications for our understanding of human evolution and the development of complex societies. By studying the remains of past civilizations, scientists can gain a deeper understanding of how humans have shaped the world around them and how they will continue to shape it in the future.
The discovery also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research, which brings together archaeologists, anthropologists, and other experts to study the human past. By combining different fields of expertise, researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of human history and culture.
Overall, the discovery at Barnham is a significant milestone in our understanding of human evolution and provides new insights into the lives of Neanderthals, one of our closest extinct relatives. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage sites like Barnham for future generations to study and learn from.
The researchers found heat-reddened clay and fragments of pyrite, a mineral that can be used to create sparks when struck against flint. This suggests that Neanderthals were able to make fire at their campsites, rather than just taking advantage of nearby wildfires.
To confirm this theory, the team conducted experiments using clay from the site and simulated fires in a controlled environment. The results showed that the baked clay from Barnham matched the characteristics of clay that had been exposed to multiple heating events over several hours.
The discovery pushes back our understanding of when humans first learned to control fire, which is believed to have revolutionized human life by providing warmth, light, and a way to cook food. It also suggests that Neanderthals were able to adapt and innovate in their environment, making them one of the most successful species to ever inhabit the Earth.
The team's findings are significant not only for their insight into ancient human behavior but also for their implications for our understanding of human evolution and the development of complex societies. By studying the remains of past civilizations, scientists can gain a deeper understanding of how humans have shaped the world around them and how they will continue to shape it in the future.
The discovery also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research, which brings together archaeologists, anthropologists, and other experts to study the human past. By combining different fields of expertise, researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of human history and culture.
Overall, the discovery at Barnham is a significant milestone in our understanding of human evolution and provides new insights into the lives of Neanderthals, one of our closest extinct relatives. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage sites like Barnham for future generations to study and learn from.
anyway this discovery is kinda blowing my mind because it means they had a level of tech and problem solving skills way ahead of what ppl think they did back then like who knew 
. And can we talk about how this discovery is gonna change our understanding of human evolution? It's like, totally shifting the narrative 
. But for real, preserving cultural heritage sites like Barnham is key - it's like, our collective history is what makes us who we are today 
.
and it makes sense considering how much we've learned about human evolution and adaptation. I mean, it's not just about survival, but also innovation and problem-solving skills. it's crazy to think about how this discovery pushes back our understanding of when humans first mastered fire 
and how it's connected to the development of complex societies. gotta respect these ancient humans for adapting to their environment 
. But what's wild is that they weren't just scavenging fire from the environment, they actually made it themselves. That shows a level of intelligence and adaptability that I think is really inspiring.
. But for real, though, the discovery of controlled fire by Neanderthals is like... whoa. Our understanding of human history just got a whole lot more interesting 
.
. And let's be real, this discovery is giving me major Game of Thrones vibes - who knew our ancestors had such fire (pun intended) 
what's up with this discovery! 400k years ago?! That's even before Homo sapiens were around lol! I mean, it just goes to show that Neanderthals were super resourceful and adaptable. It makes sense though, they'd need fire to survive in the harsh climate. The fact that they could control their own fires is huge, it shows they had a level of intelligence and problem-solving skills that's impressive.
These Neanderthals were already like "you know what, let's make our own fire 
. That's a whole new level of game changer 
. This discovery is definitely giving me more respect for our extinct cousins 
. Can't wait to see what other secrets they uncover 
I mean, we think they're our cousins or whatever, but they were already levelin' up their survival game 
. And the fact that they controlled fire at their campsites is wild 
. It's like they were the OGs of camping life 
. This discovery changes everything about how we think of human evolution and adaptation. We gotta give it to them, they were on point 
. They might be gone but their awesomeness lives on 
. It's like, we should be trying to replicate those skills in our daily lives, you know? Like, why are we still struggling with basic tech when ancient humans had some serious fire control going on 
i guess its a big deal for the archaeology world and stuff, but like, what does it really tell us about neanderthals? were they actually super smart or just lucky? 