Yes, early humans did cook food, with evidence suggesting this practice began much earlier than previously thought.
The Dawn of Cooking in Human History
A significant new study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution indicates that early humans first began cooking food approximately 780,000 years ago. This finding pushes back the timeline for the earliest known cooking activities considerably.
Before this groundbreaking research, the oldest evidence of cooked food was dated to around 170,000 years ago. This earlier evidence was linked to the use of fire for preparing both vegetables and meat by early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.
Timeline of Early Human Cooking Evidence
Understanding the timeline helps illustrate the evolution of cooking practices:
| Estimated Date | Associated Human Group(s) | Evidence Type | Source Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~780,000 years ago | Early Humans | New Study Suggestion | Nature Ecology and Evolution (Nov 18, 2022) |
| ~170,000 years ago | Early Homo sapiens, Neanderthals | Previous Earliest Evidence (Meat, Veg) | Older Studies (Prior to the 780k finding) |
Why Cooking Mattered
The adoption of cooking was a pivotal moment in human evolution. It provided several advantages:
- Increased Nutrient Absorption: Cooking breaks down complex food components, making nutrients easier to digest and absorb.
- Reduced Pathogens: Heating food kills harmful bacteria and parasites, improving health and reducing disease risk.
- Energy Efficiency: Cooked foods are easier to chew and digest, requiring less energy from the body compared to raw foods. This freed up energy that could be used for other functions, including brain development.
The discovery that cooking was potentially happening as far back as 780,000 years ago suggests that this beneficial practice was part of the behavioral toolkit of even earlier hominin species, potentially influencing their survival and evolutionary trajectory.
