That could explain why hominins came to frequently encounter and eventually master fire.Īrchaeologist Sally Hoare of the University of Liverpool praised the study for documenting primates that face multiple predator species in a savannah environment, which might be similar to the habitats of some hominin species. The scientists think human ancestors initially ventured into fire prone grasslands, at least in part, to avoid predators. The finding that living primates benefit from blazes in this way means it’s possible ancient hominins did too, according to Herzog and her coauthors.
The openness of burned ground may deter carnivores and offer a safe haven for these primates. It turns out the monkeys sensed fewer predators in fire-swept savannah compared to unburned grasslands, where leopards and other stealth killers hide. For the study, the anthropologist tracked the behavior of South Africa’s vervet monkeys before, during and after fires. One key benefit may be safety from predators, according to Herzog’s latest study, published this month in the Journal of Evolution. “What would motivate a critter to actually want to go near it or associate with it in the way that humans do?” “Fire's a frightening and dangerous and scary thing,” she says. The professor at the University of Denver began studying primates who live near frequently ablaze habitats to see if our evolutionary cousins reap any benefits from scorched lands.
Since scientists can’t ask ancient hominins what drew them to fire, several years ago anthropologist Nicole Herzog turned to the next best thing. Perhaps human ancestors tasted a naturally seared carcass and became determined to light their own paleo-cookout 1 million years ago or so. But some researchers assume clever hominins learned to control flames by watching wildfires that tore through their African homelands. Scientists will never know with certainty the story behind that initial spark lit by hominins-living and fossil species on the human branch of the primate family tree. The pivotal breakthrough allowed our predecessors to cook, clear land and fend off fierce predators. When human ancestors first made fire, they turned a force of nature into a handy tool.
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