Prehistoric Hearths Reveal Ice Age Hunter-Gatherers Were Masters of the Flame

Scholars generally agree that fire was crucial to human survival during the most recent Ice Age—yet in Europe, there is surprisingly little evidence of hearths from its coldest years, between 26,500 and 19,000 years ago. By studying three prehistoric hearths in Ukraine, a team of researchers has gained new insight into how fire was used during the Ice Age’s harshest period. As detailed in a study published earlier this month in the journal Geoarchaeology, the bygone fires reveal hints of sophisticated pyrotechnology, including the potential use of bones and fat for fuel. “Fire was not just about keeping warm; it was also essential for cooking, making tools and for social gatherings,” Philip R. Nigst, one of the lead authors of the study and an archaeologist at the University of Vienna, said in a university statement. Although the archaeological record confirms that hunter-gatherers in Europe built fires throughout the Upper Paleolithic period (45,000 to 10,000 years ago), there is a ... Read full article.