According to a study, cooking was practiced by early humans much earlier than previously believed.
One of the most significant evolutionary milestones in the history of our species was when we first learned to cook food. It is what made us into the people we are today.
According to a recent study that was published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, the first food was likely prepared by early humans around 780,000 years ago. The earliest trace of cooked food was discovered around 170,000 years ago when Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens used fire to prepare meat and vegetables.
Cooking fires existed before Homo sapiens
The latest research demonstrates that Homo erectus, a predecessor of modern humans, was engaged in food preparation far earlier in time.
The research team located its supporting documentation at an archaeological location in Israel’s modern-day Jordan Valley, in the northern Jordan Valley. It is estimated that the Gesher Benot Ya’aqov site dates back around 780,000 years.
Communities of Homo erectus from the so-called Acheulian culture are thought to have resided there. Large game, fruit, vegetables, and freshwater fish from the nearby paleo-Lake Hula were all part of the communities’ varied diet. But until now, scientists were unsure whether they consumed their food raw or cooked.
Burnt fish teeth provide evidence of early cooking methods.
The research team examined the fish tooth fragments (from carp and barbel) discovered around fires at Gesher Benot Ya’aqov. The study discovered that the teeth’s crystal structure indicated that they had been roasted at a temperature of under 500 degrees Celsius (932 degrees Fahrenheit).
Why the period of human cooking is important
A pivotal point in human progress was the invention of cooking.
Compared to eating raw food, cooking makes meat, fish, and vegetables easier to absorb, promoting faster growth of the body and brain. In addition, because it eliminates microorganisms, food is safer to consume.
Did people leave Africa with the fish?
Early humans left Africa via freshwater lakes and rivers, claims the Zohar. Early human settlement and activity sites are always found close to fresh water.
Unlike game animals, fish can be eaten all year round and are a great source of nutrients and protein.
How was fish caught by Homo erectus?
The authors claim that because the water in the wetlands was so shallow, catching fish is possible without the use of equipment like nets or fishing rods.
It is thought that shore fishing with implements like nets and spears is a relatively recent development in human history. Fishing has been a challenge for humans for hundreds of thousands of years before more effective techniques than grabbing it with your hands were developed. The oldest fishhook is 42,000 years old.
News Mania Desk
