Early Evidence Of Fire Found

Discovery News ^ | 10-17-2003 | Rossella Lorenzi

[blam]

Early Evidence Of Fire Found

Rossella Lorenzi, Discovery News

Oct. 17, 2003 — Construction work to build a relief road for a British village has revealed one of the earliest evidences of fire in Europe, British archaeologists announced.

Charcoal deposits that might date back between 250,000 and 300,000 years ago, were discovered in Harnham, a village one mile south of Salisbury on South Wiltshire's Chalklands, England.

"It's really an exciting discovery. It has come out of the blue as air photography showed nothing of significance. The presence of charcoal suggests the people there made fires. It would seem natural as the climate was cold and damp at the time," archaeologist Helena Cave Penny told Discovery News.

Excavation also uncovered animal bones, such as horse bones, and 44 "very rare" flint hand axes — the earliest form of tool used by man.

"The site was next to a tributary of the River Avon. We believe it was used as a seasonal riverside camp," Cave Penny said.

Revealing the shadow of hunters who probably made fire and sat by the river using axes as butchery tools to carve up meat, the prehistoric riverside "picnic" site dates to the lower Paleolithic (early Stone Age) era.

Characterized by flint implements simply chipped into shape, this is a crucial period as it saw the development of those features that make us human — loss of thick body hair; bipedal; tool-making; use of fire; the creation of clothing and weapons and probably the development of language.

Showing plenty of evidence of Stone Age sites, England boasts the largest area of preserved Paleolithic land surface in Europe at Boxgrove, West Sussex.

According to Roy Canham, County Archaeologist for Wiltshire, the Chalkland area near Salisbury might have potential for new discoveries.

"This finding can help our understanding of the period. The use of fire may have to remain speculative, but the evidence really looks OK," Canham said.

The findings will be catalogued and put on display in Salisbury Museum.

[Coeur de Lion]

You're right it's usage came about long for politically correct times. For those unconfortable with it just interpret it to mean "before Christian era" instead of "before common era" and as for C.E.--interpret it as "Christian era."

[Carolinamom]

Please add me to your ping list. Thanks in advance.

[farmfriend]

Consider youself added. And if you ever change you mind, just let me know.

[Winniesboy]

There are many rivers called Avon all over the UK, as the literal meaning of Avon is simply 'river' (so 'River Avon' is strictly speaking tautologous). The pronunciation depends entirely on the prevailing vowel sounds of the dialect in that part of the country. In the Scottish Highlands, for instance, it sounds more like 'Aahn', with the 'v' silent.

[LibWhacker]

Please add me to your list, too. Thanks!

[Graybeard58]

... Thanks for that explanation. It occured to me after I posed the question that that might be the case.
...We certainly have our share of variations in pronunciation and dialect in the U.S.

[wideminded]

Charcoal deposits that might date back between 250,000 and 300,000 years ago, were discovered in Harnham, a village one mile south of Salisbury on South Wiltshire's Chalklands, England. ...

Excavation also uncovered animal bones, such as horse bones, and 44 "very rare" flint hand axes — the earliest form of tool used by man.

Flint occurs as "nodules" within chalk deposits. Flint was eventually traded but at this very early date perhaps only those who lived right on top of the chalk were able to make flint tools.

[farmfriend]

Consider yourself added. If you ever change your mind, just let me know.

[HankReardon]

You would wonder why if they are worried about offending people, wouldn't they be afraid of offending Christ?

[RadioAstronomer]

Thanks for the ping. :-)

[DefCon]

oh...

NOW I get it....(groan)

[null and void]

It was quite a stretch.