Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Charcoal Analysis Suggests Any Wood Would Do for Early Hominins
Archaeology Magazine ^ | April 17, 2026 | editors / unattributed

Posted on 04/22/2026 8:09:40 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

Analysis of charcoal found at the site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov in northern Israel shows that early hominins used readily available tree species for firewood, according to a statement released by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. For tens of thousands of years, hunter-gatherers repeatedly returned to Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, which was situated near a lake. Ethel Allué of the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution, Naama Goren-Inbar of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and an international team of scientists examined more than 250 pieces of charcoal from an occupation layer at the site dated to some 780,000 years ago. The researchers were able to determine that ash, willow, grapevine, oleander, olive, oak, pistachio, and pomegranate wood were all burned. When compared with the variety of fruits, nuts, and seeds collected for food at the site, Allué and her colleagues found that the charcoal represented a more diverse collection of botanical remains. The firewood was therefore likely picked up as fallen branches and logs from plant species available along the lakeshore and the open Mediterranean woodland. Fish remains, mainly the teeth of large carp, were found among the charcoal, indicating that fish were cooked over what was probably a carefully controlled fire, the researchers concluded. Read the original scholarly article about this research in Quaternary Science Reviews. To read about the world's oldest known rock art, which was made by modern humans nearly 70,000 years ago, go to "Mark of the Human."

(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-40 last
To: SunkenCiv; All
Speaking of charcoal, Activated Charcoal has been proven to have life-extending benefits, if taken daily. My brand:

NaturaLife Labs Activated Charcoal 1200 mg per Serving


21 posted on 04/22/2026 9:00:33 AM PDT by montag813
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

https://www.tradewheel.com/buyers/firewood/

IMPORTED FIREWOOD


22 posted on 04/22/2026 9:04:23 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued, but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Seruzawa

You must have missed that in two earlier replies.


23 posted on 04/22/2026 9:06:29 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
Analysis of charcoal found at the site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov in northern Israel shows that early hominins used readily available tree species for firewood, according to a statement [...] Ethel Allué of the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution, Naama Goren-Inbar of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and an international team of scientists examined more than 250 pieces of charcoal from an occupation layer at the site dated to some 780,000 years ago.
The tribe (particular taxonomic group) of Homini includes the following extant species: Chimpanzees, Bonobos, and Humans (as well as many extinct species such as the Australopithecines).

Chimps and Bonobos form the sub-tribe of Panini, while Humans belong to the sub-tribe of Hominina.

All members of the Genus Homo are thus homininans.

Strictly speaking, the writer is not incorrect: The fire-builders were hominins - but that is an overly broad designation, since it includes Chimps and Bonobos (which definitely never mastered fire-making).

It would have been "cleaner" in the article to speak of "homininans."

Regards,

24 posted on 04/22/2026 9:07:41 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

25 posted on 04/22/2026 9:46:08 AM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

Great post! Then as is now there were people who for whatever reason did the bidding of clever others, went out collected the wood and the food and then delivered it to them as ordered. So it goes.


26 posted on 04/22/2026 9:50:23 AM PDT by allendale
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

This comes directly from the “well, doh” department.


27 posted on 04/22/2026 11:10:04 AM PDT by GingisK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Harmless Teddy Bear; SunkenCiv
...you used what you had...

Including various species of dried dung. Wet ones were difficult to ignite.

28 posted on 04/22/2026 11:12:30 AM PDT by GingisK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: 4yearlurker

God is going to get you for that.


29 posted on 04/22/2026 11:20:14 AM PDT by Seruzawa ("The political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence." -Marx the Smarter (Groucho.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

I can pretty much confirm that anytime I was out in the wood during cold weather, any wood would do for me too.


30 posted on 04/22/2026 1:52:47 PM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
"...See, this is one of those times when, the less I say, the better..."

Hahahahahahahhahahahahah!!!!!

31 posted on 04/22/2026 1:54:09 PM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Heh, except it comes out like “I am Groot.”!


32 posted on 04/22/2026 1:55:14 PM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel

Natalie, Wood.


33 posted on 04/22/2026 1:59:27 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

No Tiger Woods references? Guess ancient hominids weren’t into roll playing.


34 posted on 04/22/2026 2:05:00 PM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

This thread is obviously populated with reprobates. I am going to leave now!


35 posted on 04/22/2026 2:42:59 PM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Interesting-then as now, necessity dictated what wood was gathered/burned when cold or hungry and outdoors...


36 posted on 04/22/2026 3:06:42 PM PDT by Texan5 ("You've got to saddle up your boys, you've got to draw a hard line"...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Sirius Lee

I’m pretty sure you meant “role playing”-I doubt they played a “roll”-autocomplete does not know anything about proper grammar...


37 posted on 04/22/2026 3:11:37 PM PDT by Texan5 ("You've got to saddle up your boys, you've got to draw a hard line"...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: GingisK
Grass bundles when twisted right also make pretty good fuel.

It is just a lot of time and energy to make them so anything else is preferable.

38 posted on 04/22/2026 6:05:42 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (The tree accused of killed Sonny Bono was planted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: alexander_busek

It would have been “cleaner” in the article to speak of “homininans.”
.
Would “homininans” have included Ralph Kramden?


39 posted on 04/22/2026 10:14:58 PM PDT by Does so (☞"For English, press 2"...Dem☭¢rats ™ ® © ≣ ½⅓⅔¼¾ ⅛⅜⅝⅞ ⅓ ⅕ ⅖ ⅗ ⅘ ⅙ ⅚)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Texan5
I’m pretty sure you meant “role playing”-I doubt they played a “roll”

No, I was talking about Tiger Woods and meant exactly what I said. Not what you think I meant.


40 posted on 04/23/2026 3:31:55 AM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-40 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson