Posted on 10/30/2019 12:45:05 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Now, a team of University of Connecticut researchers, working with colleagues from Armenia, the U.K., and Spain, has found compelling evidence that early humans such as Neanderthals not only controlled fire, but also mastered the ability to generate it.
"Fire was presumed to be the domain of Homo sapiens but now we know that other ancient humans like Neanderthals could create it," says co-author Daniel Adler, associate professor in anthropology. "So perhaps we are not so special after all."
Their work, published today in Scientific Reports, pairs archaeological, hydrocarbon and isotope evidence of human interactions with fire, with what the climate was like tens of thousands of years ago.
Using specific fire-related molecules deposited in the archaeological record and an analysis of climatological clues, the researchers examined Lusakert Cave 1 in the Armenian Highlands.
full title -- New study on early human fire acquisition squelches debate: Evidence shows ability to create fire happened earlier than originally thought
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
The Neandertal Enigma"Frayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]
by James Shreeve
in local libraries
Michelle Hilling, founding partner in Audio News and Archaeologica, dies after a brief illness.
http://www.archaeologica.org/BioPageMichelle.htm
Excellent and very interesting.
“not only controlled fire, but also mastered the ability to generate it.”
Did they find a 10, 000,000 year old Zippo lighter?
It was Og!!!
I’m so glad that those Neanderthals could sit around a campfire and cook s’mores after a hard week at the office.
Fire was easy.
Understanding compound interest took longer.
They found human remains, bent over the remmants of a fire that never quite started, and the DNA match of the dead guy were with Al Gore, inventor of the internet. ;^)
No. Plastic cigarette filters, buts and a Marlboro carton.
As I recall, Peking man (600,000 years ago) used fire...
I’ve always thought that maybe fire making came out of flint knapping that been around for a million years or more.
Striking the two right rocks together generates a spark that falls into the dead grass at your feet.
Not very convincing IMHO.
Doesn’t rule out a ‘sacred’ kept fire used as a starter and replenished.
Heck, why would they ever put out their fire?
Just to move.
One of my roommates in college was an Eagle Scout. He almost burned down our apartment building practicing “fire by friction” on his carpeted bedroom floor, TWICE!!!!
I threatened to beat my portion of the damage deposit out of him. As it turns out, he couldn’t afford to be that level of stupid.
As I recall this, I am also reminded that I had to make him keep the rabbit skins outside to dry. The living room was not an appropriate place to have freshly killed rabbit skins cure.
And so tap dancing was born.
We genocided these Neanderthal folks.
No-one has clean hands.
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