The use of fire and human distribution

Area of Science:

• Paleoanthropology
• Human Evolution
• Archaeology

Background:

• Humans inhabit diverse environments due to cultural adaptations buffering temperature extremes.
• Understanding the prehistory of human distribution, culture, and temperature is key to human adaptation evolution.
• Fire is considered crucial for human evolution and expansion, especially into temperate zones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the chronology of hominin dispersal into temperate latitudes.
• To examine the archaeological evidence for fire use in these regions.
• To highlight the need for new approaches in understanding human adaptation to cold.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of archaeological evidence for hominin presence.
• Analysis of the chronology of fire use in Eurasia and Northern Europe.
• Discussion of current knowledge gaps and limitations in archaeological data.

Main Results:

• Hominin presence in Eurasia and Northern Europe predates convincing evidence of fire use.
• There is ongoing disagreement regarding the chronology of hominin dispersal and fire use.
• Limitations exist in the archaeological evidence for early fire use.

Conclusions:

• The role of fire in early hominin expansion into temperate latitudes requires further investigation.
• Complementary approaches, including studies of current human temperature regulation, are needed.
• Integrating diverse evidence is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of human adaptation to cold environments.