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Comment by dotancohen

3 hours ago

Humans had completely mastered fire by about 200,000 years ago - after 800,000 years of experimentation.

Speech is dated to around 60,000 years ago, though some say we started down that path 200,000 years ago: right when we mastered fire.

4 comments

dotancohen

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sscaryterry  2 hours ago

Probably due to the need for profanity after getting burnt.

  • slfnflctd  1 hour ago

    I can't in good conscience upvote short form jokes on HN, but that got a laugh out of me.

  • bell-cot  1 hour ago

    The need for profanity came much earlier - due to smashed thumbs, gouged fingers, etc. while learning to make primitive stone tools.