Homo erectus is the human ancestor associated with the earliest widely accepted evidence of controlled fire at Wonderwerk Cave.
Researchers reported burned bone and ash within a roughly one-million-year-old layer at Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa. The material was found deep inside the cave and showed microscopic changes consistent with burning, making it stronger evidence than isolated pieces of naturally charred material.
The exact date when humans first controlled fire remains debated because fires can arise naturally and evidence is often fragmentary. Wonderwerk Cave is important because it combines combustion traces with a secure archaeological context. Fire may have provided warmth, protection, light, and opportunities for cooking, although the timing and regularity of cooking are separate questions.