Early Humans Likely Used Fire 1.79 Million Years Ago

Archaeologists have discovered evidence that hominids used fire up to 1.79 million years ago, according to a report by Science News dated June 25, 2026. The findings, published in a study led by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, challenge previous assumptions about the timeline of human control over fire. The discovery was made at a site in Wonderwerk Cave, South Africa, where sediment layers and charred remains suggest repeated use of fire by early hominids.

The study analyzed microcharcoal particles and thermal alterations in sediment layers, which indicate that fire was used consistently at the site between 1.79 million and 1.2 million years ago. Lead author Dr. Sarah Hsiung stated that the evidence “represents the earliest direct proof of controlled fire use by hominids,” surpassing earlier findings from sites in Israel and China that dated back approximately 1 million years. The research team used thermoluminescence dating to confirm the age of the sediments, a method that measures accumulated radiation to determine when minerals were last exposed to heat or sunlight.

“This shifts our understanding of when and how early humans interacted with fire,” Hsiung said. “Fire would have provided warmth, protection from predators, and the ability to cook food, which could have influenced brain development and social structures.” The study’s authors note that the use of fire at this scale suggests a level of cognitive complexity previously attributed to later hominid species, such as Homo erectus.

The implications of the discovery extend beyond archaeology. Public health researchers have highlighted the evolutionary significance of fire in shaping human diets and disease resistance. Dr. Michael Torres, a paleoanthropologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, explained that cooking food “reduced the energy required for digestion, allowing more calories to be allocated to brain growth.” This could have contributed to the expansion of hominin brain sizes over time, a key milestone in human evolution.

However, the study also raises questions about the spread of fire use across different hominid populations. While the Wonderwerk Cave findings are the oldest confirmed evidence, other sites in Europe and Asia have yielded less conclusive data. “We don’t yet know how widespread this practice was,” said Dr. Hsiung. “It’s possible that fire use developed independently in multiple regions, or that it was transmitted through cultural exchange.” The research team plans to analyze additional sites in Africa and the Middle East to map the geographic and temporal distribution of early fire use.

The study’s methodology has been praised for its rigor but also scrutinized for potential limitations. Some experts, including Dr. Emily Chen of the Smithsonian Institution, noted that the presence of charred materials does not definitively prove human control over fire. “Natural wildfires could have produced similar patterns,” she said. “Further research is needed to distinguish between accidental and intentional fire use.” The study’s authors acknowledge this uncertainty, emphasizing that their findings represent “the strongest evidence to date” but not a definitive conclusion.

Public health officials have also weighed in on the broader significance of the discovery. “Understanding how early humans adapted to environmental challenges can inform modern approaches to resilience,” said Dr. Amina Patel, a public health policy advisor. “Fire use may have been a critical factor in human survival during periods of climate change, a lesson that remains relevant today.”

The research underscores the interconnectedness of archaeological, biological, and public health disciplines. As Dr. Hsiung explained, “Each new finding about our ancestors helps us piece together the story of human adaptability.” The study is expected to spark further investigation into the role of fire in shaping human evolution, with potential applications in fields ranging from nutrition science to climate resilience planning.