Part 2/10:
Archaeologist Hermann Pottinger explains that our relationship with fire has been pivotal throughout human history. While it is impossible to pinpoint the exact moment when prehistoric humans mastered fire—potentially around a million years ago—the ability to create fire was integral for survival. It offered warmth, protection from predators, and radically altered our diets through cooking, leading to significant biological and cultural evolution.
Fire enabled early humans to gather around the fireplace, fostering social interaction and likely even aiding in the development of language. This profound relationship with fire establishes a cultural legacy that persists to this day.