14. Fire

Return to History 8 Human Origins Concepts

The use of fire played a big role in the path of human evolution. Fires provided a place to gather, a way to cook food, warmth, and a new way of hunting.

Early species used the fireplace as a social area. The members of a group could sit around the fire and communicate. Some say this helped the early humans evolve into the modern Homo Sapiens, as the communication skills of the species advanced. This in turn made the group of men more friendly towards one another and better relationships were established.

The fire also allowed food to be cooked. Since the process of cooking allows more nutrients to be released for absorbtion by the body, early men could get more calories and nutrients in their diet. They could eat the same food, but get more out of it. This also allowed muscles and bones to be stronger as more protein and other necessary components of the body were added to the species' diet. This is also shown to have been a factor in brain development.

Fireplaces provided warmth for early man. In some places, it was constantly cold, and fire was a necessary part of their lifestyle. Some groups of early man may have died out if it was not for the discovery of fire.

Fire also created new ways of hunting. One species,Homo heidelbergensis, used fire to force animals off cliffs to their death or force them into a smaller area where they could be killed. This allowed meat to be more easily aquired instead of going on three day hunts. Some species used fire to create fire hardened tools, making the tools last longer and tougher to break.

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Uses of fire[1]

Men with fire[2]

Cooking meat[3]

Video Notes, Walking with Cavemen (10/13/14)

-Vijay Patel