Archaeologists uncover evidence of fires used by Homo erectus 1.8 million years ago

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of fires used by Homo erectus 1.8 million years ago, according to a study published in PLOS One. The discovery, made in Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa’s Northern Cape province, challenges previous assumptions about early human control of fire, pushing back the earliest confirmed use by hundreds of thousands of years.

Ancient Fire Use Pushes Back Human Evolution Timeline

The study, led by University of Toronto archaeologist Michael Chazan, analyzed burnt owl pellets and animal bones in deep cave sediments. These remnants, dated to between 1.07 and 1.79 million years ago, indicate Homo erectus regularly used fire, though not necessarily created it. “This is not human ignition of fire; it’s collecting a fire on the landscape,” Chazan said, explaining that early humans likely transported flames from natural wildfires.

Previous evidence of hominid fire use dated to about 1 million years ago in the same cave. The new findings, however, come from a deeper sediment layer, suggesting earlier and more frequent fire use. Chazan emphasized the significance: “I’m very comfortable saying it was between 1.7 and 1.8 million years ago.”

How Researchers Identified Ancient Fires

The team employed a luminescence-based method—common in forensics but novel in archaeology—to detect burned bones. Owl pellets, which contain indigestible rodent remains, provided critical clues. “The cave was used as a shelter by barn owls throughout its period of ancient human occupation,” Chazan explained. Fires built on the pellet-strewn floor likely left behind the burnt remnants now studied.

While the exact purpose of the fires remains unclear, researchers speculate they provided light, warmth, and protection. However, evidence suggests Homo erectus lacked the ability to ignite fires independently, a skill only mastered around 400,000 years ago. “There’s a clear signal, but it’s not of year-round access to fire,” Chazan noted, adding that wildfires likely occurred seasonally, limiting their reliability.

Implications for Human Evolution

The discovery reshapes understanding of Homo erectus behavior. While the species is known for migrating out of Africa and developing larger brains, its reliance on natural fires highlights a key limitation in early technological advancement. “This pushes back the timeline for when humans began interacting with fire,” said Chazan, though he cautioned against overestimating the species’ agency. “It’s more about opportunistic use than mastery.”

Comparing the new findings to earlier studies, the 1.8-million-year mark significantly precedes the 1-million-year-old evidence from the same cave. This gap underscores the gradual evolution of fire use, which later became central to human survival and cultural development.