A groundbreaking study has revealed that Ice Age hunter-gatherers in Europe used advanced fire-building techniques—employing not just wood, but also animal bones and fat to sustain fires in freezing temperatures. The findings, published in the journal Geoarchaeology on April 1, 2025, challenge previous assumptions about the lack of preserved fireplaces from the Last Glacial Maximum, which spanned from around 26,500 to 19,000 years ago.
The research was led by archaeologist Philip R. Nigst of the University of Algarve and the University of Vienna, and sheds light on how early humans thrived during some of the harshest climatic conditions in human history.
Ancient Hearths Along the Dniester RiverThe study analyzed three prehistoric hearths discovered near the Dniester River in Ukraine. These fireplaces revealed evidence of sophisticated construction and fuel management. Charcoal remains pointed to spruce wood usage, while additional material—burnt bones and fat—suggested that Ice Age individuals used multi-source fuel strategies to extend fire longevity.
Micro-stratigraphic and micromorphological analysis revealed flat hearths that reached temperatures of over 650°C, indicating an advanced understanding of fire control and thermal dynamics. The fireplaces were not rudimentary—some were thick and heat-tolerant, suggesting year-round or seasonal use by Ice Age hunter-gatherers.
Questions About Bone as FuelMarjolein D. Bosch, a zooarchaeologist part of the study, emphasized that more research is needed to determine whether animal bones were deliberately used as fuel or if they were accidentally burned. Regardless, the presence of burnt bones in controlled hearth structures shows intentionality in fire management.
These Ice Age people weren’t just lighting fires to survive—they were engineering them to endure.
Why Are Ice Age Fireplaces So Rare?Despite fire being essential to Ice Age survival—for cooking, warmth, tool-making, and light—archaeological evidence of fireplaces from the period is surprisingly scarce. Lead researcher Nigst noted that repeated freezing and thawing cycles may have erased many traces. He also raised the possibility that alternative technologies were used when fire was hard to sustain.
The research opens new avenues into understanding how early humans adapted to extreme environments—and how fire played a crucial role in the rise of Homo sapiens.
Looking AheadThis discovery underscores the evolving picture of Ice Age innovation. The team plans to conduct further investigations into how fire contributed not only to human survival but also to our species’ eventual dominance on the planet. With these new insights, archaeologists may soon uncover more lost knowledge from our ancient ancestors.
