Fires, which have always been a danger factor throughout human history, also occurred millions of years before human life. So, when and where did the first fire in history occur? A new study published in the journal Geology has revealed a new discovery that may answer this question.
Scientists examining coal beds in Wales and Poland found evidence of the oldest fire ever detected. The coal deposits, which were determined to be about 430 million years old, also provided important clues about what the Earth was like 430 million years ago.
The fire occurred in short plants:
- One of the samples obtained in the research
During that period, which coincided with the Silurian period, plant life was heavily dependent on water to thrive. It’s quite inquisitive to stumble upon plant life in parts of the Earth that are dehydrated for most of the year. In the new research, it was announced that the fire, traces of which were found, occurred in very short plants, almost the size of an ankle.
- Depiction of the Prototaxites species
According to scientists, the earth in the area where the fire occurred was covered with the ancient mushroom ‘Prototaxites’ rather than trees. Although there is no information about this species in the scientific world yet, it was shared that it is believed that this species can grow up to 9 meters. In addition, important data about the oxygen level in the world were also included. The oxygen rate, which is 21% in the atmosphere today, was 16% at that time, according to the data obtained from the coal beds.
With the newly discovered fire, the time of the oldest fire in history regressed by 10 million years.
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