Expert: John Shea - 4/7/2004

Question
When did humans first use fire? Was the primary use of fire to cook food or something else? Also, why did humans go from eating food raw to cooking it ? And if you can recommend any books about this subject that a lay person might enjoy please let me know. Thanks.

Answer
Dear Don,
There is possible evidence from about 1.4 Million years ago in Sterkfontein Cave in South Africa.  Other than this, evidence for controlled use of fire that is distinct from naturally-occurring phenomena (i.e., burnt tree stumps) doesn't become a regular part of the record until after around 300,000-200,000 year ago (Terra Amata and Pech de L'Azé Cave, both in France).  You will see references to fire use in the 300,000-700,000 BP range from Zhokoudian Cave in China, but recent studies suggest this evidence is not really the result of fire.
Presumably, there was a long period during which human ancestors ate most of their food raw (much as do living chimpanzees and bonobos), however, evidence for regular controlled use of fire is pretty common by the time modern Homo sapiens fossils start showing up in the fossil record (ca. 150,000 BP).
There is a very good popular book about cooking and human evolution either just published or to be published shortly by Richard Wrangham, a professor from Harvard.  An Amazon.com search on his name ought to help you find it.
Cheers,
John Shea