Uncovering definitive proof that ancient humans were capable of creating their own fires has long been a challenging task for archaeologists. The primary reason is that the tools used for fire-making often don’t withstand the test of time, leaving little behind for researchers to study.

Until recently, the oldest known evidence of intentional fire-making was discovered in France, dating back 50,000 years. This finding has been pivotal in understanding the technological capabilities of early humans.

Interestingly, the researchers believe the fireplace belonged to perhaps the most-maligned member of the human family tree, the Neanderthal.

We did start the fire

But it took four years of painstaking work to prove that the heated clay was not caused by wildfire.

They also found fire-cracked hand-axes that could have struck the pyrite.

The earliest known evidence of fire-making by humans has been discovered at a disused clay pit near Barnham, Suffolk, indicating humans were making fire 350,000 years earlier than previously known. Source: AAP / Jordan Mansfield

Sarah Hlubik, a pyroarchaeologist at St Mary’s College of Maryland in the United States not involved in the research, told AFP “this is a really exciting find”.

Everyone “can connect with the idea of a group of humans around a campfire, it’s something we’ve all experienced,” Ashton said.

There is fossil evidence from around 400,000 years ago which suggests that the period when humans’ brains were approaching their modern size, the researchers said.

Neanderthals not so dumb

But this discovery “negates the argument that they just never had that technology,” Hlubik said.