How the Ancient Homo Neanderthal Used Fire
Compared to us, Neanderthals were (of course)cavemen. But to themselves, Neanderthals must’ve been pretty proud of themselves when they discovered fire. This report includes a list of possible uses for fire in the Stone Age. These are warmth, weaponry and illumination.
Warmth
The first thing involving cavemen and fire that comes to mind is that they will have no more cold nights. In this sense, they can develop cooking styles. Gathering around a fire could become a nightly routine, or a tradition. If the people had warmth, they would start the basis of religion (I won’t get into that…)
Weaponry
Have you heard of flaming torches? They’re like an ant vs. a blue whale compared to our nuclear weapons, but back then, nuclear weapons would be like the ability to destroy time itself. Flaming torches were the ultimate weapon 100,000 years ago. Fire would be the beginning of flaming arrows too.
Illumination
Light wasn’t that important back then. Although it would allow night raids on other Neanderthal’s camps. How about night hunting trips? For example: There is a lush meadow nearby. A few mammoths graze in it. A few hunters come by with spears and flaming torches. You know the rest. Also they could explore new caves for sleeping in.
So basically, fire changed our lives forever. We became invincible in battle. We had warmer nights. We were able to see at night. But most of all, fire was part of the winding maze of discoveries and breakthroughs that led to modern technology and our amazing intelligence.
A drawing of a Neanderthal Camp after the discovery of fire:
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