The mastery of fire, later than previously thought 
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
two events of great importance in the technological evolution of early humans. While experts agree that the origin of the tools dating back at least 2.5 million years in Africa, the origin of the fire control has been a prolonged debate. Now, a study by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that modern humans were able to handle the flames a good fire, another indication that they were not brutes and beasts that many often portrayed. Even the flames could use to improve their stone tools. The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). For the new study, researchers examined dozens of ancient archaeological sites in Europe, 1.2 million years ago to 35,000. They found convincing evidence of bonfires by the Neanderthals, says Paola Villa, curator of the Museum of Natural History in Colorado. The Neanderthals evolved in Europe about 500,000 years ago and became extinct 30,000. Were more robust than modern humans, with they shared the same areas for some time. Even modern humans carry a small amount of Neanderthal DNA. "Scientists know that Neanderthals were capable of making fire, but believed they were capable of continuous use of the same," he says. The evidence for the sustained use of fire include the presence of artifacts coal, hot stone, burnt bones, sediment heater, etc . Later
what is believed The researchers also discovered that the ancestors of the Neanderthals were driven into the cold northern European latitudes
more than 800,000 years ago without knowing control fire. "This confirms the suspicion that went against the views of most scientists, who believed it was impossible for humans to penetrate the cold regions without fire," says Villa. It took hundreds of thousands of years before they started using it. The earliest evidence of habitual use of fire by sitidio Neanderthals comes from Beeches Pit (England), 400,000 years ago. The site contains scattered pieces of heated stones, bones burned at high temperatures and pre-heated sediments. According to Villa, Neanderthals getting on fire by digging holes in the ground, where bark inserted birch. Then cover the hole with stones to block the entry of air. To create sparks, pieces of flint struck with pieces of iron pyrite
. There may also be conservdo fire and transported from one place to another. "I think it is good evidence against those who say that Neanderthals did not have a high mental capacity," says Villa. Recent studies also show that Neanderthals were cooking their vegetables. ABC / madrid Day 14/03/2011 - 9:31 p.m.
more than 800,000 years ago without knowing control fire. "This confirms the suspicion that went against the views of most scientists, who believed it was impossible for humans to penetrate the cold regions without fire," says Villa. It took hundreds of thousands of years before they started using it. The earliest evidence of habitual use of fire by sitidio Neanderthals comes from Beeches Pit (England), 400,000 years ago. The site contains scattered pieces of heated stones, bones burned at high temperatures and pre-heated sediments. According to Villa, Neanderthals getting on fire by digging holes in the ground, where bark inserted birch. Then cover the hole with stones to block the entry of air. To create sparks, pieces of flint struck with pieces of iron pyrite
. There may also be conservdo fire and transported from one place to another. "I think it is good evidence against those who say that Neanderthals did not have a high mental capacity," says Villa. Recent studies also show that Neanderthals were cooking their vegetables. ABC / madrid Day 14/03/2011 - 9:31 p.m.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment