The History of Fire

It has been burning within us since the beginning of time: fire has led mankind out of the darkness. More than a million years ago, it ensured the daily survival of our ancestors. Today, fire is a normal part of our social life. A brief history of the beginnings of fire use.

The group is restless, excited. Today could be the day. A thunderstorm with lots of lightning has been passing over the country all night. Now, the next morning, there is an unmistakable smell in the air. There must have been a fire nearby. As the group leaves their safe rock cave, the nine people of the Homo erectus species are presented with a breathtaking and terrifying sight: the small forest in the distance has burned down. Clouds of smoke are still rising here and there. If one of the group now finds the courage to run away from the blazing horizon and return with a fire, the next meal could be a very special one. And it could finally be warm again at night, almost like in the summer months.

The history of mankind is closely interwoven with that of fire. On our journey, we go far back in human history and take a look at how man and fire came together. We accompany a group of Homo erectus on the hunt for a burning piece of wood. And we approach the early history of fire use from a scientific perspective. Here, around 1 to 1.5 million years ago, begins a wonderful story that is also full of dangers. The use of flames provided our ancestors with better food, warmth and light, which - anthropologists believe - led to a larger brain. Fire also helped us to settle down and practice some of the most important cultural and survival techniques of our species.

A just reward awaits the brave

The commotion is almost riotous. Getting the fire is no easy task. Everyone in the group knows that such an action can end in burns, perhaps death. But there is something that draws them to the dangerous spot where the day before there was still a grove. And that is the difference that fruit, plants and meat make when they have been close to the fire for a while. That is the wonder of being able to see the others, even when it has become dark. And that is the warmth that a fire gives off. It's almost like having a piece of the sun in front of you. It takes a while before Akra, the leader of the group, sets off - accompanied by the encouraging shouts of his charges ...

For us today, fire is a normal part of our lives. We use it to light the barbecue, we use it to make iron and glass and we light a candle to create a cozy atmosphere - or we light the fireplace. However, it took many millennia before we humans managed to use fire in such a controlled way. Researchers assume that the use of fire by humans initially depended on chance: there had to be a natural event, such as a volcanic eruption or a forest fire. Only then could fire be used for a time, in all probability with great effort and a great deal of courage. In other words, if you didn't have a fire, you had to wait.

From a threat to a guarantee of survival

The first evidence of the controlled use of fire comes from Koobi Fora in present-day Kenya. Electron spin resonance was used to prove that sediment, which is around 1.5 million years old, was very probably used as a fireplace. Somewhat more concrete evidence is reported from Swartkrans in South Africa, where traces of burning on bones dating back around one million years were found. The calculated temperatures were so high that they could not have come from a natural source, such as a bushfire. The fact that these are isolated finds, which cannot be more than indications, shows that fire use was common a million years ago: Fire use was more of a casual thing a million years ago.

TRACK SEARCH

The best-known evidence of human fire use can be found in South Africa's Wonderwerk Cave, where our ancestors roasted plants and animals a million years ago. 4 IN 1 - Fire gave our ancestors light at night, warmth in winter, protection from wild animals and roasted meat.

Tending it and keeping it going was a major strategic and communicative feat that had to be learned. In addition, fire must have been an almost magical thing for our ancestors. They were aware of its destructive power and knew that great caution was required. Nevertheless, the advantages apparently outweighed the downsides: The heat of the fire made meat easier to digest. Over time, people ventured into colder parts of the world, which was also made possible by the help of fire. During this phase, the close bond that people still feel today when a fire is lit somewhere may have developed: The great reverence for the power of fire on the one hand and the survival benefits that its use produced on the other: this contrast created an enormous field of tension in which we still operate today.

Akra has arrived. The place is almost unrecognizable. What was once a small, tall forest has been transformed into a barren, black-grey landscape. The air is becoming increasingly stuffy, more and more saturated with sulphur. Caution is now required. Every step could reveal a nest of fire and put Akra in great danger. Very slowly, he stalks forward in search of a remaining fire. However, he need not fear wild animals here
. They have all fled and will avoid the area for a long time. Homo erectus also feels the instinct to simply turn around and run away. But he knows that his future and that of his group will be much brighter if he summons up all his courage now. Some distance away, a branch seems to be glowing, sticking out from a charred tree trunk. Akra cautiously approaches his target. The branch is indeed still smouldering, with a small flame appearing again and again in some places. In a swift action, he breaks off the branch and blows lightly over the smoldering spots. And indeed: the fire is getting bigger. At a slow pace, lighting the fire again and again, the leader makes his way back to his group ...

PLACE OF GATHERING

Even today, people like to gather around a campfire to talk, sing, tell stories or simply enjoy the crackling of the warming flames.

Warmth, food, light and protection

Controlling a fire is an extremely difficult task. It requires technical skill and knowledge, but that's not all. A million years ago, neither our brains nor our ability to interact were as developed as they are today. Agreeing with each other on what to do probably required a great deal of effort. However, something else was particularly important in order to reach such agreements: thinking and acting with foresight. We can therefore say not only that Homo erectus must have had a reasonably well-functioning social structure, but also that those groups that succeeded in taming fire had a better chance of survival. Did fire ultimately have a much more important function in the evolution of humans than we assume today?

Akra's courageous excursion was worthwhile. He can hear the group cheering from afar. None of the members can hide their joy at Akra bringing a burning branch from the forest. From now on, everyone has their task: while the youngsters collect dry grass and wood, the older ones prepare a safe fire pit. A circle of stones inside their cave protects the group from the flames spreading, while at the same time no rain shower can smother the fire. Over the next few hours and days, everyone will take meticulous care to keep the flames alive. This will make the coming meals easier to digest and the approaching winter easier to survive. Over the past few winters, the group has learned a little better each time how to use firewood sparingly. Whatever happens, the fire must not go out now. From now on, they will all benefit from the warmth and light of the flames. Akra is satisfied.

Countless myths and legends tell of the immense influence fire has had on civilization. For the Greeks, it was Prometheus who gave the gods the steel of fire. The demigod Māui has the same function among the New Zealand Maori. In Norse mythology, the giant Logi personifies fire, while Hinduism names Agni as the god of fire. There are many other stories about fire from all parts of the world. They all show the importance it had for our ancestors. Anthropologists believe that fire provided an evolutionary advantage: In contrast to raw meat, it is not only easier to digest when roasted, it also contains fewer germs and parasites. According to science, this fact has had a positive influence on the growth of our brains. So what began with people like Akra and his group, as a cautious first use of fire, developed into an enormous success story for mankind.

Beyond myths, fire still plays a major role for us today. All over the world, for example, the campfire is seen as a place of encounter and exchange. Even today, we like to be near a controlled fire, in convivial company or in secluded contemplation. And the fireplace helps to make our home a place of warmth and coziness. The calming effect of a flickering open fire continues to cast a spell over us.