Humans made fire 790,000 years ago: study

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A new study shows that humans

had the ability to make fire nearly 790,000 years ago, a

skill that helped them migrate from Africa to Europe.

By analyzing flints at an archaeological site on the bank of

the river Jordan, researchers at Israel's Hebrew

University discovered that early civilizations had learned

to light fires, a turning point that allowed them to venture

into unknown lands.

A previous study of the site published in 2004 showed

that man had been able to control fire -- for example

transferring it by means of burning branches -- in that

early time period. But researchers now say that ancient

man could actually start fire, rather than relying on natural

phenomena such as lightning.

That independence helped promoted migration northward,

they say.

The new study, published in a recent edition of

Quaternary Science Reviews, mapped 12 archaeological

layers at Gesher Benot Yaaqov in northern Israel.

"The new data shows there was a continued, controlled

use of fire through many civilizations and that they were

not dependent on natural fires," archaeologist Nira

Alperson-Afil said on Sunday.

While they did not find remnants of ancient matches or

lighters, Alperson-Afil said the patterns of burned flint

found in the same place throughout 12 civilizations was

evidence of fire-making ability, though the methods used

were unclear.

And because the site is located in the Jordan valley -- a

key route between Africa and Europe -- it provides

evidence of the human migration, she said.

"Once they mastered fire to protect themselves from

predators and provide warmth and light, they were secure

enough to move into and populate unfamiliar territory,"

Alperson-Afil said.

(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; editing by Alastair

Macdonald)

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081026/sc_nm/us_science_fire;_ylt=Aj64MgJhx3O732xAD_TtcZAbr7sF