Prehistoric Fire Extinguished
So, where's the fire? According to archaeologists writing in the journal
Science Friday, it's not in the caves of
Zhoudoudian, China. What was previously thought to be a 500,000-year-old
fireplace there turns out to lack the tell-tale traces of wood ash. That
leaves us with no evidence that our distant ancestor Homo Erectus had any
idea how to set the world alight. Which is a problem, because Homo Erectus
is supposed to have been busy colonizing the coldest climes of Asia
back then. How on earth did he do it without a way to
keep the home fires burning? "In essence," said biologist Steve Weiner,
lead author of the study, "we spoil the story." Look on the bright side --
scientists now have a whole new missing link to ponder. The Zhoudoudian
tourist industry is unlikely to see it that way, however.