Chinese Archaeologists Unearth 7,000-Year-Old Fire-Making Tools

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 04/03/2025 at 15:22

Updated on 04/03/2025 at 16:10

Esta foto tirada em 7 de janeiro de 2025 mostra a tábua de fogo de um conjunto de ferramentas de perfuração de fogo desenterrado no sítio arqueológico de Caoyangang, na província de Jiangsu, no leste da China. Foto: Agência de Notícias Xinhua

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Discovery Of Fire-Making Tools In China Reveals Surprising Advances Of Primitive Civilizations, Changing The View Of Human Technological Evolution.

Archaeologists have discovered 7,000-year-old fire-making tools in Jiangsu province, China. The excavation took place at the Caoyangang site and revealed the oldest known set of fire-making technology in the country.

The artifacts found help to understand how early humans began to produce fire artificially, rather than just preserving natural sources.

The team responsible for the discovery was led by Gan Huiyuan from the Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. During the excavation, they found a well-preserved set of fire-making tools, consisting of a drilling stick and a fire board. According to Gan, this is the best-preserved fire drilling equipment ever found in China.

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Findings Details

The drilling stick measures over 60 centimeters in length, while the fire board is over 30 centimeters. The object shows various dark circular marks, indicating repeated use for generating fire. A circular groove at one end suggests that the board could be carried or hung.

In addition to these tools, other similar pieces were found, reinforcing the idea that the region’s inhabitants mastered fire production. The preservation of wooden objects for so many centuries is considered rare, especially in a humid environment like Jiangsu.

The Caoyangang site covers more than 80,000 square meters and has been excavated by the Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology in partnership with the Nanjing Museum since 2022.

At the site, researchers also found over 3,000 artifacts, including ceramics, bone tools, wooden objects, and animal remains. Among the animal remains, there is evidence of deer, pigs, cattle, dogs, and birds. Aquatic plant remains were also found.

This photo taken on January 7, 2025, shows the fire board of a set of fire drilling tools unearthed at the archaeological site of Caoyangang in Jiangsu province, eastern **China. Photo: Xinhua News Agency**

Historical Details

The discoveries reveal details about the life of prehistoric communities in the region and help to understand the social organization and technological advancements of the time. According to Gan Huiyuan, the archaeological site is a key piece for understanding the prehistoric cultural structure of China.

The excavation also reinforces ancient accounts from Chinese mythology. Traditional legends mention that early humans generated fire by rubbing wood to create friction. Now, there is concrete archaeological evidence confirming the existence of this technology in the region.

The importance of the discovery goes beyond confirming mythological practices. The intentional production of fire was a milestone in human evolution, allowing advancements such as cooking food, protection from predators, and adaptation to different environments. The mastery of the technique represents a significant change in the way of life of ancient peoples.

As excavations at Caoyangang progress, archaeologists hope to find more evidence that clarifies how this society functioned and developed its technologies.

The discovery of fire-making tools already adds an important chapter to the history of humanity, providing details about the lives of the first inhabitants of China and their capacity for innovation.

With information from archaeologymag.

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Chinese Archaeologists Unearth 7,000-Year-Old Fire-Making Tools

Discovery Of Fire-Making Tools In China Reveals Surprising Advances Of Primitive Civilizations, Changing The View Of Human Technological Evolution.

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Chinese Archaeologists Unearth 7,000-Year-Old Fire-Making Tools

Discovery Of Fire-Making Tools In China Reveals Surprising Advances Of Primitive Civilizations, Changing The View Of Human Technological Evolution.

Findings Details

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Brazil will harvest a record crop of up to 357 million tons of grains, but it does not have the capacity to store a large part of it. The storage deficit has reached the highest level in history and is equivalent to almost the entire production of Argentina.

Four times faster than the Concorde, capable of taking passengers from New York to London in less than an hour at Mach 5.5, and with an engine that switches from turbojet to ramjet mid-flight at Mach 3.5, the Hermeus Quarterhorse went from paper to its first flight in just 19 months.

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