A new study shows that early humans could create and control fire 400,000 years ago, far earlier than previously believed.
Researchers at the British Museum analyzed tools and sediments at East Farm Barnham in Suffolk, England. They found evidence that Neanderthals made fire using flint and pyrite. This pushes the timeline for fire-making back by around 350,000 years.
The site contained heat-altered, reddened soil surrounded by cracked flint tools. Scientists used chemical and magnetic testing to confirm that the fires were human-made, not natural wildfires. Temperatures reached over 750°C in repeated burning events.
Fragments of pyrite were also discovered, indicating that Neanderthals made sparks by striking it against flint. “Some of the oldest groups of Neanderthals knew the properties of flint, pyrite, and tinder at such an early date,” said Nick Ashton, who led the study.
Professor Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum explained that individuals who could ignite fire on demand had a major survival advantage. Fire provided warmth, protection from predators, and the ability to cook food. Cooking improved nutrition and may have supported early brain development.
“This finding is groundbreaking,” said co-researcher Rob Davis. “It shows that Neanderthals made fire intentionally, rather than relying on natural sources like lightning strikes.”
The study also suggests that these early humans understood fire’s practical uses, highlighting a level of technological skill not previously attributed to them. Previously, the oldest widely accepted evidence of controlled fire was dated to just 50,000 years ago at other Neanderthal sites.
This discovery reshapes our understanding of early human innovation. By showing that Neanderthals made fire hundreds of thousands of years earlier, researchers now recognize them as sophisticated tool users and planners.
The full research has been published in the journal Nature, providing detailed analysis of the hearths, tools, and pyrite fragments.
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