Early humans forged tools with fire

**EireEmerald** · August 23, 2009, 08:22 AM

WASHINGTON — Humans living along the southern tip of Africa some 72,000 years ago used fire to forge and shape their stone tools and weapons, said a study published Thursday by the journal Science.
The findings indicate that modern humans were capable of complex thought much earlier and in a different part of the world than previously believed, the study said.
"We show that early modern humans at 72,000 years ago, and perhaps as early as 164,000 years ago in coastal South Africa, were using carefully controlled hearths in a complex process known as heat treatment," said study lead author Kyle Brown.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...abQ6EUoQi8lCaQ

**Phier** · August 23, 2009, 08:30 AM

I didn't know that was so controversial, I thought we know about humans using fire to harden wooden spears quite a while ago.

**EireEmerald** · August 23, 2009, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by Phier

I didn't know that was so controversial, I thought we know about humans using fire to harden wooden spears quite a while ago.

apparently not.

**MrMofo** · August 23, 2009, 10:39 AM

I'm guessing it was more complex than a camping fire, the same way it takes more than a campfire to fire pottery, or forge a cannon. It says complex controlled fires.

We generally tend to underestimate our ancient ancestors. The Victorian image of the knuckle-dragging caveman is still pretty firmly entrenched with us.