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dedl67

(229 posts)
2. Mastery of fire is a key behavior that distinguishes humans from any other animal.
Wed Dec 10, 2025, 01:48 PM
Dec 2025

The book "Vestal Fire" by Stephen Pyne is a fascinating account of humans' use of fire, and defense against fire, through European history. Nearly every aspect of our lives is connected in some way with fire and Pyne covers everything. So this discovery is very important in understanding the evolution of the genus Homo.

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8 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Probably cooking Fish & Chips. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Dec 2025 #1
lol wolfie001 Dec 2025 #4
Glad you got a chuckle! It was an intentional anachronism. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Dec 2025 #14
I was 60 years old when I found out the term "corn" meant flour in Europe wolfie001 Dec 2025 #15
No, but will check them out. Thanks. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Dec 2025 #16
Well, "grain" really. The Corn Laws in England regulated the sale of grain, but corn often meant "wheat" by default. eppur_se_muova Dec 2025 #18
Mastery of fire is a key behavior that distinguishes humans from any other animal. dedl67 Dec 2025 #2
Makes Sense roscoeroscoe Dec 2025 #3
They were burning humans? Oh, nevermind. twodogsbarking Dec 2025 #5
That long ago, they must have been Neanderthals. JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2025 #6
Yes. The article (which isn't paywalled) mentions that these were probably early neanderthal people. highplainsdem Dec 2025 #7
That's an incredible jump in the history of fire making. Probably implies other big time shifts coming. erronis Dec 2025 #8
Some say that the Neanderthals on the British isle survived to this day. LudwigPastorius Dec 2025 #9
JK Rowling wolfie001 Dec 2025 #10
Nah they moved to the US where they are now known as Republicans. cstanleytech Dec 2025 #13
I have an acquaintance of an acquaintance of an acquaintance Warpy Dec 2025 #11
It is becoming increasingly obvious that humans developed advanced technology far longer ago than accepted by the Martin68 Dec 2025 #12
Just don't cite Graham Hancock and his followers (including Joe Rogaine) wolfie001 Dec 2025 #17
Yes, indeed, there are many charlatans in out there. Martin68 Dec 2025 #21
Oh goodie! wolfie001 Dec 2025 #22
Everyone's heard of "flint and steel", but I only heard about pyrite making sparks a few years ago, which is surprising. eppur_se_muova Dec 2025 #19
What were they lighting, man? Kid Berwyn Dec 2025 #20
Paleontologists have discovered that within five minutes of the discovery ... 11 Bravo Dec 2025 #23
Come here this instant ... both of you! FakeNoose Dec 2025 #24
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