人类会生火或可追溯至40万年前

Core Insights - The latest research published in Nature indicates that early humans may have consciously controlled fire as far back as 400,000 years ago, earlier than the previously believed timeline of 350,000 years ago, suggesting a significant behavioral shift in human evolution [2][3] - The ability to create and maintain fire is identified as a crucial milestone in human development, providing warmth, protection from predators, and the ability to cook food, which expanded dietary options [2] - Evidence of fire usage at human habitation sites dates back over a million years, but pinpointing when humans learned to control fire has been challenging [2] Findings from the Research - The research team from the British Museum discovered heated sediment and flint tools with fire-related cracks in ancient soil dating back approximately 415,000 years in Barnham, Suffolk, indicating that humans at that site had the ability to control fire [2] - The presence of two fragments of iron pyrite, a rare mineral in the area, suggests that it was intentionally brought to the site for fire-starting purposes, indicating a deliberate approach to fire usage [2] - These findings collectively demonstrate the complexity of human behavior 400,000 years ago, with early humans likely understanding the properties of iron pyrite as a fire-starting tool, which could have significant implications for cooking and the evolution of the human brain [3]