Imagine that you are an archaeologist on a dig somewhere in East Asia and you begin to excavate an area littered with stone tools that also has the remains of an ancient fire.Subsequent carbon dating of the charcoal from the fire yields a date of 200,000 years before the present.Given these circumstances,which species would you expect most likely set that fire?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The use of fire in ancient times is associated with the Homo genus, specifically Homo erectus. The age of 200,000 years also corresponds to the time when Homo erectus is known to have existed. Other species listed, such as Australopithecus afarensis and Ardipithecus ramidus, are not known to have used fire, and Homo ergaster is a close relative of Homo erectus and may also have used fire.

Imagine That You Are an Archaeologist on a Dig Somewhere