Question

There is evidence that early hominins were capable of controlling fire by building hearths, or early fireplaces as early as 800,000 years ago and lasting over a long period of occupation into Homo heidelbergensis times. At which site has this evidence been found?

Answer 1

The oldest evidence of controlled fire by early hominins, specifically associated with Homo heidelbergensis, was found at a site in Israel dating back to around 780,000 years ago.

Step-by-step explanation:

The evidence of early hominins capable of controlling fire and building hearths dating back to as early as 800,000 years has been discovered at a site in Israel. This site, with its continuous fire use, has been associated with Homo heidelbergensis and is dated to about 780,000 years ago. The careful management of fire by these early humans was crucial for warmth, protection, cooking, and tool-making, underscoring its significance in human evolution. Earlier evidence also suggests that Homo erectus might have used fire about 1.7 to 2.0 million years ago based on findings in Zhoukoudian, China.