The first sparks: a revolutionary discovery from ancient Britain
Event information
4 September 2026
18.00–19.00
BP Lecture Theatre
Price
- £10
- £8 (Concessions)
18+
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Join us for the first event in a brand-new series of curator-led talks, Extraordinary histories, to find out how a remarkable archaeological discovery is transforming our knowledge of humanity's ability to make fire.
Join Prof Nick Ashton, who led the excavations at Barnham, Suffolk, as he reveals groundbreaking evidence that proves humans were making fire more than 400,000 years ago – around 350,000 years earlier than previously thought. The discovery is reshaping our understanding of a pivotal moment in human history.
The ability to make and control fire marked a critical turning point in human evolution. It provided warmth, light and protection, helped our ancestors thrive in harsher environments, and created opportunities for socialising, storytelling and sharing knowledge. In many ways, it laid the foundations for the complex societies we live in today.
Hear directly from Prof Ashton, Curator of Palaeolithic Collections, to learn what these extraordinary findings reveal about human innovation, survival and the deep history of a technology that changed the world.
There will also be an opportunity to put your questions to Prof Ashton to find out more about the discovery and its significance.
The Museum galleries remain open until 20.20 on Fridays, so you can continue your journey through human history before or after this event.
Discover how humanity's first sparks ignited a revolution that still shapes our lives today.
To attend this event
- Book now to reserve your place.
- Doors to the BP Lecture Theatre will open at approximately 17.45 for the audience to take their seats.
- Please note only bottled water is permitted in the theatre. No food or other drinks are allowed.
- Please show your confirmation email or paper ticket to our Visitor Welcome colleagues. They will guide you to our security check and bag search before entering the Museum.
- Construction work for our new Energy Centre Programme is taking place in the South West of the Bloomsbury site. This impacts some escape routes and therefore affects the number of people we can host safely in parts of the Museum. From July 2025 to Winter 2029, the Ford and Clore centre, including the BP Lecture Theatre, will operate at significantly reduced capacity while these works continue.
- The BP Lecture Theatre is located on the lower floor. View the Museum map for more information.
About the speaker
Prof Nick Ashton is Curator of Palaeolithic Collections at the British Museum and a leading specialist in the early human occupation of Europe. He's the Principal Investigator for the Pathways to Ancient Britain research project funded by the Calleva Foundation and has directed many excavations, including the early human footprints at Happisburgh, Norfolk. Prof Ashton's book, Early Humans (2017), was listed in the Guardian's Best Books of the Year 2017.
Extraordinary histories
These events offer a unique opportunity to hear directly from the experts behind the world's most extraordinary collection as they share remarkable stories, cutting-edge research and the latest discoveries deepening our understanding of our shared human past.