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Scientists Uncover 1.7-Million-Year-Old Fire Evidence in South African Cave

6/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

South African scientists found burned animal bones in Wonderwerk Cave dating between 1.07 and 1.79 million years ago, oldest known hominin fire evidence.
Researchers used bone luminescence to show heating and magnetostratigraphy and cosmogenic burial dating to place the fires in the early Acheulean period (?1.76 million–130,000 years ago).
The remains were clustered about 100 feet from the entrance, letting researchers rule out accidental wildfire and suggesting repeated fire use without proof of cooking.

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Story summary

South African scientists found burned animal bones in Wonderwerk Cave dating between 1.07 and 1.79 million years ago, oldest known hominin fire evidence.
Researchers used bone luminescence to show heating and magnetostratigraphy and cosmogenic burial dating to place the fires in the early Acheulean period (?1.76 million–130,000 years ago).
The remains were clustered about 100 feet from the entrance, letting researchers rule out accidental wildfire and suggesting repeated fire use without proof of cooking.