PROMETHEUS AND PREHISTORY: Fire and Human Origins

The taming and use of fire was crucial in prehistory, allowing primitive humans to expand beyond Africa into the colder climates of Asia and Europe. But some think that the first use of fire was far more important and far earlier — that the use of fire dates back two million years, and brought about the changes in diet, brain, life history, and behavior that transformed the bipedal apes of ancient Africa into early humans. In 2012, BU scientists Francesco Berna and Paul Goldberg announced evidence for controlled burning in a South African cave one million years ago. In the latest BU Dialogue, Dr. Berna and archaeologist John Shea from Stony Brook University will discuss and debate the meaning of these findings and how they bear on current debates concerning the evolution of human bodies, behavior, and diet. Webcast: 3:30 PM GO TO: bu.edu/anthrop/dialogues/prometheus/dialogue-webcast/ to see the live webcast of the debate. PUBLIC ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION APRIL 18, 2013, 5 P.M. HILLEL HOUSE., 4th FLOOR 213 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215