Prehistoric humans knew how to light fires in underground caves, claims study 

If you are someone who likes to keep track of human evolution, you would definitely know about Neanderthals, the prehistoric species of modern-day humans. But guess what? They weren’t the only early humans. In fact, recently, scientists have come across specimens of another ancient humans called Homo Naledi. 

As known so far, Homo Naledi lived approximately 335,000 to 236,000 years ago in underground caves where they knew how to light up fires. Okay, but where exactly did they live? Well, that would be near the present-day South Africa, more specifically in the Dinaledi and Lesedi caves in the Rising star cave complex (50 kilometres northwest of Johannesburg) where remnants of small fireplaces, sooty walls and ceiling smudges inside passages and chambers have recently been discovered.  

Wondering who made this exciting discovery? Well, that would be palaeontologists based at Carnegie Institution of Science in Washington D.C. under the leadership of Lee Berger in collaboration with the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. These researchers have revealed following a preliminary analysis that controlled fire was lit and used regularly by these hominids for light, warmth and cooking for 400,000 years.  

Scientists have also concluded that since remains of no other hominids have been found there, it’s almost certain that it was the Homo Naledi that lit the blazes in the region so long ago. While the exact date of the age of fire still remains to be deduced, one thing is for sure, it was right before modern humans or Homo Sapiens emerged.  

Initially, scientists couldn’t believe that Homo Naledi could achieve the control of fire as it had small brain, almost one-third the size of human brain. But now it looks like they did manage to light up fires and use it for different survival purposes.  

In fact, as part of one of the latest excavations, researchers have unearthed small fireplaces containing charred wood pieces as well as burned bones of antelopes and other animals. This means that Homo Naledi was dedicated fire user, especially when it came to preparing their own food. Now, the challenge is for the investigators to determine when exactly did they start using the fire and how long before they disappeared.  

For those unaware, Homo Naledi is the largest assemblage of a single hominid species ever discovered in Africa. The name means ‘human star.’ Earlier, in 2015 and 2017, similar excavations had been initiated, but nothing concrete was revealed, until recently.