BBC Inside Science Would our ancestors have benefited from early neanderthals making fire?
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Dec 11, 2025 
Dr. Rebecca Wragg Sykes, an expert on Neanderthals, discusses groundbreaking evidence suggesting early Neanderthals made fire 400,000 years ago, shedding light on their advanced technological skills and interactions with Homo sapiens. Dr. William Perry from Cardiff University advocates for genetic modifications in farmed salmon to safeguard endangered wild populations. Lizzie Gibney reviews recent studies, including AI’s persuasive abilities and new findings on dark matter, ensuring a mix of ancient history and cutting-edge science.
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Neanderthals Made Fire Intentionally
- Early Neanderthals in Suffolk show clear evidence of making fire deliberately, using iron pyrite and flint to spark kindling.
- This pushes controlled fire-making back by ~350,000 years and attributes advanced pyrotechnology to a non-Homo sapiens lineage.
Fire Enabled Later Neanderthal Technologies
- Evidence of early fire-making links directly to later complex technologies like birch tar production used as glue.
- Rebecca Wragg Sykes connects controlled fire-making to later sophisticated Neanderthal pyrotechnology and material use.
Hearths Shaped Social Life And Learning
- Fire provided more than heat or cooked food; it created evening social arenas that extend waking hours.
- Rebecca Wragg Sykes highlights hearths as sites likely to reshape social interaction and information exchange among hominins.
