Texas archaeologists discover ancient king’s tomb in Belize
Arlen Chase and Diane Chase, archaeologists from Texas, have uncovered the 4th-century tomb of Te Kabu Chaak, an early ruler of Caracol, a significant Mayan city in Belize.
Ancient fire usage discovered at Wonderwork Cave
Recently, researchers revealed intriguing evidence that early human ancestors utilized fire in caves in Africa, pushing the timeline back by hundreds of thousands of years. This discovery, made at Wonderwork Cave in South Africa, was shared in a June 24 press release from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Wonderwork Cave is situated about 140 miles from the Botswana border, within South Africa’s Kalahari Desert.
Using fire as far back as 1.79 million years ago
At this site, findings indicate that early ancestors of humans may have been using fire as early as 1.79 million years ago. This aligns with the timeline of one of the earliest known uses of fire. Back in 2012, researchers had already reported evidence of what was thought to be the oldest known intentional fire use in the same cave, dating to around 1 million years ago.
Evidence of combustion in fossilized bone
A recent study published in the journal PLOS One highlighted the use of innovative techniques to identify signs of combustion in fossilized materials. Additional findings include owl pellets used as fuel and animal bones that were burned about 100 feet into the cave.
“With advanced technology, we can pinpoint signs of fire deep within the cave,” the university noted. The evidence suggests that early humans intentionally transported fire to the cave, indicating a proactive engagement with fire in their lives.
Natural fire sources were likely utilized
The university emphasized that while early humans could carry and maintain fire, it does not imply they could readily create it. Instead, they likely gathered fire from natural events like lightning strikes or wildfires.
Researchers noted that ancient fire evidence is often subtle and not easy to detect. This study provides valuable insights into how our ancestors interacted with fire, emphasizing that they were not mere observers but actively integrated it into their survival strategies.
Further research and previous discoveries
These recent findings follow previously reported discoveries at Wonderwork Cave and align with a similar discovery in Burnham, England, in 2025. There, researchers identified what is considered the oldest evidence of humans starting fires, estimated to be about 400,000 years old, a significant extension of our understanding of fire use in human history.
