The prehistoric people faced several challenges, and weather was the biggest one. Favourable season provided them with food, water and comfort; during bad weather, they faced the scarcity of the same. Climatologists have discovered that the earth witnessed the last Ice Age between 30,000 and 10,000 years ago; people had largely inadequate protection against that extreme cold weather. They spent their nights in the natural caves or huts made of bamboos, wild grasses, bones or skins. Scientists have found that humans invented leathers to wear and footwear in this period. Hunger, fear of wild animals and winter nights were the prime challenges for the people of the Ice Age.
Humans had learnt to ignite fire by striking two stones well before the Ice Age. Now, people must have perceived fire as a power that could provide them warmth like the sun. During nights, fire was the only possible source of warmth, light and protection from wild animals. Igniting fire by striking two stones was a difficult and time-consuming task; it was a game of chance. Therefore, people must have considered each ignition to be a miracle or blessing of some divine power.
The Ice Age people maintained a running fire round the clock and used it to ignite a new fire every time. After sunset, they sat around the fireplace to keep themselves warm, and its smoke kept wild animals away. And they must have begun several human activities such as storytelling, companionship, gossip, teaching, music or singing. The utility of fire and difficulty encountered in igniting must have elevated hearths to a divine status. The Ice Age people, for obvious reasons, must have worshipped hearths. There is much historic evidence of fire worship all over the world.
Apart from fire, the Ice Age people would have eagerly waited for the sunrise to seek warmth. As soon as they saw the saffron light of dawn, they stood still for a sunbath. Their head and hands faced the rising sun, as if they were worshipping it. During many millennia of the last Ice Age, most people must have spent their mornings in this posture.
Humans had learnt to ignite fire by striking two stones well before the Ice Age. Now, people must have perceived fire as a power that could provide them warmth like the sun. During nights, fire was the only possible source of warmth, light and protection from wild animals. Igniting fire by striking two stones was a difficult and time-consuming task; it was a game of chance. Therefore, people must have considered each ignition to be a miracle or blessing of some divine power.
The Ice Age people maintained a running fire round the clock and used it to ignite a new fire every time. After sunset, they sat around the fireplace to keep themselves warm, and its smoke kept wild animals away. And they must have begun several human activities such as storytelling, companionship, gossip, teaching, music or singing. The utility of fire and difficulty encountered in igniting must have elevated hearths to a divine status. The Ice Age people, for obvious reasons, must have worshipped hearths. There is much historic evidence of fire worship all over the world.
Apart from fire, the Ice Age people would have eagerly waited for the sunrise to seek warmth. As soon as they saw the saffron light of dawn, they stood still for a sunbath. Their head and hands faced the rising sun, as if they were worshipping it. During many millennia of the last Ice Age, most people must have spent their mornings in this posture.
