Where did the first people live?
Because the earliest fossilied remains of human-like creatures have come from sites in Africa, scientists assume that humans first emerged there. Remains have been found in eastern Africa, especially in the Rift Valley, which runs from Ethiopia down to Mozambique. A species called Homo habilis appeared there around 2.3 million years ago. They lived in organised social groups, making crued tools and probably communicating with basic speech from Africa across Asia and Europe. These people used fire, which would have kept them warm in northern climates.

Hunting, Skinning and Cooking
From around 200 000 to 300 000 years ago, Europe and the near East were occupied by a type of early Homo sapiens called the Neanderthals. They hunted by throwing spears at their prey and then chasing the injured animal until it was exhausted.

For example
Hunting :
A group of Neanderthal hunters attack an injured woolly rhinoceros with spears and large stones

Skinning :
People used stone tools to scrape the skin off pieces of meat.

Cooking :
Meat was probably first dropped in a fire accidentally, and turned out more tender cooked than raw.