The Acheulian hominins at Gesher Benot Ya’akov, an archaeological site in Israel, utilized driftwood from lake shores for their hearths, according to groundbreaking research led by archaeologists from the Catalunya Institute for Human Evolution and Society and Bar-Ilan University. A 780,000-year-old charcoal fragment discovered at the site highlights that survival hinges not on the perfect wood but on a profound understanding of the surrounding landscape.

“The substantial charcoal assemblage from Gesher Benot Yaakov offers invaluable insights into the daily lives of early humans who harnessed fire, as few similar remains exist at other prehistoric sites,” explained Professor Nama Goren Inbar from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

“While many ancient locations show only scant traces of fire, this Acheulian site reveals a detailed record of repeated fire use over tens of thousands of years.”

“Gesher Benot Yaakov offers a layered history of human settlement along the paleo-shores of Lake Hula, documenting the return of generations of Acheulian hunter-gatherers across more than 20 archaeological horizons.”

At Gesher Benot Ya’aqov, researchers unveiled an active environment, discovering the remains of hunted animals along with a variety of plant foods including fruits, nuts, and seeds gathered from the lake shore.

“One striking layer captures a pivotal moment. Alongside stone tools and plant remnants, an elephant skull and associated bones were found, providing evidence of large-scale hunting,” the researchers noted.

“The spatial layout of these remains indicates that the animals were disposed of on-site.”

“Fire was central to this ancient camp life.”

Charcoal fragments analyzed under an ESEM microscope. Image credit: M. Moncusil, PHES.

The study focused on a single human strata dating back approximately 780,000 years, analyzing 266 charcoal pieces using microscopy to identify their botanical origins.

The findings revealed a remarkable array of plant species, including ash, willow, grapes, oleander, olive, oak, pistachio, and the earliest known evidence of pomegranate in the Levant.

Interestingly, the charcoal assemblages indicated greater plant diversity compared to other excavated plant remains, such as seeds and unburned wood, suggesting a broader sampling of the surrounding ecosystem by firewood collection.

These findings illuminate ancient landscapes, showcasing a mix of lush lakeside vegetation and open Mediterranean forests while revealing early human interactions with their environment.

The hominins of Gesher-Benot-Yakov likely relied on driftwood naturally accumulating along shorelines, rather than selectively gathering certain wood types. Fallen branches and logs, carried by water to the shore, provided a ready source of fuel.

The charcoal composition closely reflected the surrounding wood availability, implying a practical strategy to utilize natural resources.

This suggests that firewood availability may have influenced early human settlement choices. Lake shores offered fresh water, edible plants, animals, and tools, all essential for sustaining fires.

Spatial analyses showed that dense charcoal clusters corresponded with fish carcass concentrations, particularly the teeth of large carp, adding substantial evidence for controlled cooking fires at this site approximately 800,000 years ago.

These discoveries enhance our understanding of early hominin cognitive abilities, indicating that they could control fire, organize their surroundings, and develop complex survival strategies.

However, while hunting and tool-making demanded careful organization, firewood collection seems to have been a more routine activity based on availability rather than specific preferences.

This provides a glimpse into skilled communities closely attuned to their environments, who repeatedly returned to resource-rich habitats.

“The charcoal assemblage at Gesher Benot Yakov offers a unique dataset to examine the relationship between fire use, environmental conditions, and human behavior,” the authors concluded.

“This discovery refines current models of early fire practices and underscores the importance of local resources in shaping Middle Pleistocene behavior and lifeways.”

For more insights, see their study published in Quaternary Science Review.

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Ethel Allue et al. 2026. Paleoenvironmental and behavioral insights into firewood selection by early Middle Pleistocene hominins. Quaternary Science Review 38: 109973; doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2026.109973