Human fire-making timeline pushed back 350,000 years by new discovery
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A groundbreaking discovery in Suffolk suggests that humans may have been creating fire nearly 400,000 years ago, pushing back the known timeline by roughly 350,000 years.
The finding indicates that the ability to ignite and control fire may have originated far earlier in human history than previously thought, challenging long-held assumptions about the evolution of this critical skill.
At a former clay pit in Barnham, researchers uncovered scorched earth, heat-fractured flint tools, and two pieces of iron pyrite — a mineral capable of producing sparks when struck against flint.
Because pyrite is virtually absent in the area and does not appear in thousands of local geological samples, scientists concluded it must have been intentionally carried from distant chalky coastal sites. This strongly implied that the fire was not the result of natural wildfires but was deliberately created by the people who once occupied the site.
The individuals responsible were almost certainly early Neanderthals, as Homo sapiens did not expand widely beyond Africa until much later.
Fossils from sites of similar age in Kent and Spain contain early Neanderthal DNA, supporting the idea that these groups possessed the knowledge needed to make fire long before modern humans appeared in Europe.
Researchers involved in the project said the implications were enormous, noting that fire was central to human evolution. The ability to generate heat and light, cook food, ward off predators, and endure harsh northern climates would have given early humans profound advantages.
They also suggested that fire likely became a social centre — encouraging communication, food sharing, and the early development of culture.
Although signs of ancient burning at the Barnham site were first noticed over a decade ago, it required years of analysis to determine whether they reflected natural fires or purposeful activity. Tests showed that the clay had been repeatedly heated to high temperatures, and the presence of transported pyrite ultimately convinced scientists that the site had once hosted a deliberately maintained hearth.
Independent archaeologists described the findings as highly persuasive and said this may represent the oldest known evidence of intentional fire-making. They also noted that if humans were striking sparks 400,000 years ago, the practice may date back even further, urging closer scrutiny of older sites where evidence might be subtle or degraded.