The technique involves analyzing the microscopic structure of burned wood, which can provide information about the temperature and duration of the fire, as well as the type of wood that was burned. This information can then be used to infer the activities of our ancestors, such as cooking, heating, or tool-making.
"This new technique provides a more detailed understanding of how our ancestors used fire," said Dr. Silvia Bello, a researcher at the University of Southampton. "It allows us to reconstruct the different stages of a fire, and to identify the specific activities that were carried out."
The researchers tested their technique on a variety of burned wood samples, including wood from archaeological sites and from controlled burns. They found that the technique was able to accurately identify the temperature and duration of the fire, as well as the type of wood that was burned.
"This technique has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of how our ancestors used fire," said Professor Chris Stringer, a researcher at the Natural History Museum in London. "It provides a wealth of new information that can help us to reconstruct the lives of our ancestors and to understand how they evolved."
The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.
