Signs of a 400,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Campfire Found in the UK

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Archaeologists in the UK have uncovered the oldest-known evidence of deliberate fire-making by Neanderthals, dating back around 415,000 years. This discovery reshapes our understanding of early human innovation and social life. Source: DW.

Signs of a 400,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Campfire Found in the UK

🔥 A Landmark Discovery in Human Evolution

Researchers excavating near Barnham, Suffolk, have found heated clay, heat-shattered handaxes, and pieces of iron pyrite—a mineral used to spark fires when struck against flint. These findings provide unequivocal evidence of deliberate fire-making, pushing back the timeline of controlled fire use by hundreds of thousands of years.

🧑‍🔬 Why This Matters

  • Fire on demand: Unlike opportunistic use of natural fires (from lightning or forest fires), this site shows Neanderthals intentionally brought pyrite to create flames.
  • Brain evolution: Cooking meat and plants made digestion easier, freeing energy for the growth of larger brains.
  • Survival in cold climates: Fire provided warmth, enabling Neanderthals to thrive in regions like Britain.
  • Social hub: Hearths likely became centers for community, storytelling, and the development of language.

📍 The Barnham Site

  • Located in an old clay pit near a former pond.
  • Evidence suggests Neanderthals lived here roughly 415,000 years ago.
  • The pyrite found was not naturally available in the area, meaning it was transported intentionally for fire-making.

🌍 Broader Context

  • Previous evidence of deliberate fire-making dated to about 50,000 years ago in France. This new discovery pushes the timeline back nearly 365,000 years.
  • Paleoanthropologists link the Barnham fire-makers to early Neanderthals, similar to remains found at Swanscombe (UK) and Sima de los Huesos (Spain).
  • Neanderthals went extinct around 39,000 years ago, but their genetic legacy remains in modern humans.

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • This discovery highlights Neanderthals’ ingenuity and adaptability.
  • Controlled fire use was not just about survival—it shaped diet, social bonds, and cultural evolution.
  • The Barnham hearth is a milestone in human history, showing that our ancestors mastered fire far earlier than previously believed.

Source: DW – Signs of 400,000-year-old Neanderthal campfire found in UK


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