Dec 10 (Reuters) – Scientists have discovered the oldest-known evidence of fire-making by prehistoric humans in the English county of Suffolk – a hearth apparently made by Neanderthals about 415,000 years ago – revealing that this milestone for our evolutionary lineage occurred far earlier than previously known.

At an old clay pit for making bricks near the village of Barnham, the researchers found a patch of ‍heated clay, some heat-shattered flint handaxes and two pieces of iron pyrite – a mineral that creates sparks when struck against flint to ignite tinder – that they identified as a repeatedly used campfire.

It was situated near a watering hole where these humans encamped.

“We think humans brought pyrite to the site with the intention of making fire. And this has huge implications

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