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Fire in the Plio-Pleistocene: The functions of hominin fire use, and the mechanistic, developmental and evolutionary consequences

Attwell, L.; Kovarovic, K.; Kendal, J.R.

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Authors

L. Attwell



Abstract

Fire is a powerful natural force that can change landscapes extremely quickly. Hominins have harnessed this resource for their own purposes, with mechanistic and developmental physiological consequences. In addition, the use of fire has niche constructive effects, altering selective environments for genetic and cultural evolution. We review the record for hominin fire use in the Plio-Pleistocene, before considering the various functions for its use, and the resultant mechanistic and developmental consequences. We also adopt the niche construction framework to consider how the use of fire can modify selective environments, and thus have evolutionary consequences at genetic and cultural levels. The light that fire produces may influence photoperiodicity and alter hormonally-controlled bodily rhythms. Fire used for cooking could have extended the range of foods hominins were able to consume, and reduced digestion costs. This may have contributed to the expansion of the hominin brain and facial anatomy, influenced by a higher quality cooked diet. Fire may also have allowed dispersal into northern areas with much cooler climates than the hominin African origin, posing novel problems that affected diet and social behaviours.

Citation

Attwell, L., Kovarovic, K., & Kendal, J. (2015). Fire in the Plio-Pleistocene: The functions of hominin fire use, and the mechanistic, developmental and evolutionary consequences. Journal of Anthropological Sciences, 93, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.93006

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 29, 2015
Online Publication Date Jun 20, 2015
Publication Date Jan 1, 2015
Deposit Date Feb 4, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 16, 2016
Journal Journal of Anthropological Sciences
Electronic ISSN 1827-4765
Publisher Istituto Italiano di Antropologia
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 93
Pages 1-20
DOI https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.93006
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1437120
Publisher URL http://www.isita-org.com/jass/Contents/ContentsVol93.htm

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