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Humans made fire 790,000 years ago: study
Reuters, via Yahoo! ^ | Sunday, October 26, 2008 | Ari Rabinovitch, ed by Alastair Macdonald

Posted on 10/28/2008 7:53:10 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

A new study shows that humans had the ability to make fire nearly 790,000 years ago, a skill that helped them migrate from Africa to Europe.

By analyzing flints at an archaeological site on the bank of the river Jordan, researchers at Israel's Hebrew University discovered that early civilizations had learned to light fires, a turning point that allowed them to venture into unknown lands.

A previous study of the site published in 2004 showed that man had been able to control fire -- for example transferring it by means of burning branches -- in that early time period. But researchers now say that ancient man could actually start fire, rather than relying on natural phenomena such as lightning.

That independence helped promoted migration northward, they say.

The new study, published in a recent edition of Quaternary Science Reviews, mapped 12 archaeological layers at Gesher Benot Yaaqov in northern Israel.

"The new data shows there was a continued, controlled use of fire through many civilizations and that they were not dependent on natural fires," archaeologist Nira Alperson-Afil said on Sunday.

While they did not find remnants of ancient matches or lighters, Alperson-Afil said the patterns of burned flint found in the same place throughout 12 civilizations was evidence of fire-making ability, though the methods used were unclear.

And because the site is located in the Jordan valley -- a key route between Africa and Europe -- it provides evidence of the human migration, she said.

"Once they mastered fire to protect themselves from predators and provide warmth and light, they were secure enough to move into and populate unfamiliar territory," Alperson-Afil said.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs
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To: patton

9 Volt Battery & Steel Wool...


21 posted on 10/28/2008 9:07:30 PM PDT by Hoosier-Daddy ("It does no good to be a super power if you have to worry what the neighbors think." BuffaloJack)
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To: Hoosier-Daddy
Zn + H2SO4 → Zn2+ + SO42- + H2
22 posted on 10/28/2008 9:13:27 PM PDT by patton (cuiquam in sua arte credendum)
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To: patton

Well, then there’s always pure sodium and water... but that’s just more for the fun of it...


23 posted on 10/28/2008 9:34:36 PM PDT by Hoosier-Daddy ("It does no good to be a super power if you have to worry what the neighbors think." BuffaloJack)
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To: Hoosier-Daddy

Hold my beer and watch this...LOL


24 posted on 10/28/2008 9:37:44 PM PDT by patton (cuiquam in sua arte credendum)
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To: Elian Gonzales

If it WAS 790,000 years ago, it could hardly be referred to as a civilization.


25 posted on 10/28/2008 9:44:23 PM PDT by Lucius Cornelius Sulla (White Trash for Sarah!)
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To: Lucius Cornelius Sulla
If it WAS 790,000 years ago, it could hardly be referred to as a civilization.

Well, everything's relative.

26 posted on 10/28/2008 9:45:32 PM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: SunkenCiv

790,000 years ago?

Uh, not exactly.


27 posted on 10/28/2008 11:40:48 PM PDT by Fichori (I believe in a Woman's right to choose, even if she hasn't been born yet.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Not according to Mr. Joel.

http://www.teacheroz.com/fire.htm


28 posted on 10/29/2008 3:57:28 AM PDT by wolfcreek (I see miles and miles of Texas....let's keep it that way.)
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