Neanderthals Carried "Fire Starter Kits" 400,000 Years Ago

Scientists have discovered that Neanderthals in ancient Britain used portable "fire starter kits." The find reveals new details about their advanced thinking. At an archaeological site in southern England, researchers found traces of a 400,000-year-old campfire. More importantly, they found pieces of iron pyrite, a mineral, brought to the location. Iron pyrite creates sparks when struck against flint. This means the Neanderthals did not just keep a fire burning. They carried the tools to make fire wherever they traveled. This behavior shows advanced planning. Experts say it proves these early humans could solve complex problems. Mastering portable fire was a key survival skill for life in Ice Age Europe. The discovery places this technological skill much further back in time than previously confirmed for the region. It shows Neanderthals were intelligent and resourceful long before modern humans arrived.