Technological University of the Shannon
The discovery of fire was described by Charles Darwin as “possibly the greatest ever made by man.” Archeological, dietary, and social evidence point to “continuous fire-use” at least 1.5 Mya. Fire, fueled with wood and charcoal, allowed early humans to cook their food to increase its digestibility, improving its nutrient value and broadening the number of foods that could be eaten. The cooking hypothesis proposes that the ability to cook promoted an increase in hominid brain size, though some researchers find the evidence inconclusive. Archeological evidence of hearths was dated to 790 kya; researchers believe …