Final answer:
The earliest evidence for controlled use of fire by humans dates to around 780,000 years ago at a site associated with Homo heidelbergensis in Israel. Controlled fire had profound effects on human evolution, aiding in protection, cooking, toolmaking, and social bonding. It fundamentally shaped human societies and enabled expansion across continents.
Step-by-step explanation:
Earliest Evidence for the Controlled Use of Fire
The earliest evidence for the controlled use of fire by hominins is found at archaeological sites associated with Homo heidelbergensis, with the oldest continuous fire site being in Israel, dated to approximately 780,000 years ago. Control of fire played a crucial role in early human behavior, with benefits ranging from warmth in cold climates, protection from predators, cooking of meat, and tool production. This evidence suggests that Homo erectus used fire for similar purposes around 1.7 to 2.0 million years ago, as indicated by findings in Zhoukoudian, China. Fire's role in social bonding and the establishment of cooperative groups was also instrumental to the survival and evolution of human societies. The ability to create and control fire significantly shaped human evolution and is considered to have been one of the greatest achievements of our ancestors.
As a keystone species regarding fire use, humans show no known culture without it. Our species’ expansion across continents was likely aided by our control over fire, changing landscapes and ecosystems. Furthermore, culinary practices over time influenced the size and shape of our skulls and teeth, with smaller teeth and more robust brains as a result of cooked food consumption. Excavations have provided direct evidence of the earliest use of fire to cook food, with findings such as charred tubers in South Africa and charred breadcrumbs in Jordan.