Researchers from Weizmann Institute of Science have developed an advanced, innovative method to detect non-visual traces of fire. Using this method, they have discovered one of the earliest known pieces of evidence for the use of fire, dating back at least 8,00,000 years. Their results have been published in an article late in June in PNAS.
Ancient hominins are a group that includes humans and some of our extinct family members. The controlled use of fire by this group dates back at least a million years. Archaeologists believe that this was the time when Homo habilis began its transition to Homo erectus.
Cooking hypothesis
A working theory called the “cooking hypothesis”, in fact, postulates that the use of fire was instrumental in our evolution. Controlled fire not only allowed for staying warm, crafting tools, and warning off predators, but also enabled cooking, paving the way for the growth of the brain.
Traditional archaeological evidence relying on visual identification of modifications resulting from combustion has provided widespread evidence of fire use no older than 2,00,000 years. Sparse evidence of fire dating back to 5,00,000 also exists.
The team of scientists involved in this research had pioneered the application of Al and spectroscopy in archaeology to find indications of controlled burning of stone tools. For this research, they developed a more advanced Al model capable of finding hidden patterns across a multitude of scales. Output of the model could thus estimate the temperature to which the stone tools were heated.. providing insights into past human behaviours.
Assess heat exposure
The researchers took their method to Evron Quarry, an open-air archaeological site first discovered in the 1970s. The site is home to fossils and tools dating back to between 8,00,000 and 1 million years ago, but without any visual evidence of heat. With their accurate Al, the team assessed the heat exposure of 26 flint tools. The results showed that these tools had been subjected to a wide range of temperatures, with some even being heated to over 600 degree Celsius. The presence of hidden heat puts the traces of controlled fire to at least 8,00,000 years ago.
Apart from identifying non-visual evidence of fire use, the scientists hope that their newly developed technique will provide a push toward a more scientific, data-driven archaeology that uses new tools. The researchers believe that this will help us understand the behaviour of our early ancestors and the origins of the human story.
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