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Ancient Humans Used Fire to Protect Game Meat

6/6/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Early humans may have harnessed fire not just for cooking, but to protect and preserve large game meat, according to researchers at Tel Aviv University. Their groundbreaking study, published in Frontiers in Nutrition, reveals that this practice, dating back over a million years, allowed our ancestors to safeguard precious food from predators and enhance its longevity through smoking and drying.

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Story summary

Early humans may have harnessed fire not just for cooking, but to protect and preserve large game meat, according to researchers at Tel Aviv University. Their groundbreaking study, published in Frontiers in Nutrition, reveals that this practice, dating back over a million years, allowed our ancestors to safeguard precious food from predators and enhance its longevity through smoking and drying.