Ancient campfires led to the rise of storytelling

[tom_brennan]

http://news.sciencemag.org/archaeology/ ... orytelling

[DanShell]

That is most certainly the case around our camp fires too, especially after a few beverages

[Lindsay]

So an anthropologist has discovered that campfires encourage people to sit around telling stories? No *&%$#! Sherlock!

[walkerchris77]

Not much else to do when sitting around a camp fire. Some scientists are pretty intelligent to work that out.

[Chezza]

You guys are being a tad harsh. There's a big difference between noticing something that's obvious to the casual observer and describing the mechanics behind it in a rigorous and scientific manner.

I worked out that things fall towards the ground as a child, but I'm no Isaac Newton.

[Pteropus]

You guys are being a tad harsh. There's a big difference between noticing something that's obvious to the casual observer and describing the mechanics behind it in a rigorous and scientific manner.
I worked out that things fall towards the ground as a child, but I'm no Isaac Newton.

Well said Chezza. There is something alluring about campfires. I suspect it’s in our dna. After all, the fire has been the centre meeting place for Homo sapiens for a couple of hundred thousand years or so. I have found that if you make a campfire, people, strangers, will come and sit and chat.

[Earwig]

You guys are being a tad harsh. There's a big difference between noticing something that's obvious to the casual observer and describing the mechanics behind it in a rigorous and scientific manner. I worked out that things fall towards the ground as a child, but I'm no Isaac Newton.

Science isn't about observing the obvious (and not so obvious), but about asking "Why is it so?" Lots of people worked out that apples fall to the ground; Newton asked "Why does it fall?", and then invited his mates around for a bbq where they discussed falling apples and, after a few ales, come up with the idea of gravity.

[walkerchris77]

After a few ales I find out what gravity is to.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Very good, Walker Chris. Best laugh I've had in a while!