Before We Ruled The Earth 1. Hunt Or Be Hunted (6 of 15)

Before We Ruled The Earth 1. Hunt Or Be Hunted

There are things about it that are still a mystery to them.
But they must master all its secrets if they're to survive.
Over thousands of years...
...Homo erectus wrestled with the same problem.
How to keep flames alight in damp air.
Thousands of years of trial and error will provide the answer.
It 'll come from survival skills.
They may have lacked concern about the dead...
...but we can be sure people living so close to nature...
...had a vast knowledge of plants.
Of what was edible and what wasn't...
...the seasons of wild fruit and berries.

And most importantly, the healing power of plants.
This gooey substance is pine resin.
Not only can it prevent infection...
...it's also the source of turpentine, a natural fuel.
We'll never know what unlocked the secret they were looking for.
An accident of nature, a lightning strike...
...careful observation, orjust trial and error.
But these Homo erectus have finally stumbled upon it.
They've now mastered all the mysteries of fire.
It keeps them warm, cooks their food, scares away predators.
And with this momentous discovery nothing will ever be the same again.