On May 14, 2009, at 3:23 PM, Day, Wally wrote:
 
 >
 > I would also like to point out that as time goes by, everything
 > seems to be getting pushed further and further back into antiquity.
 > Especially the use of fire. First it was 50,000 years ago, Then
 > over 100,000. Then 350,000. Then 750,000. Now, (and I have read the
 > supporting evidence), a million and a half.

Cooking with fire may not be the same as using fire. The Inuit offer a good
example here. They used fire in a variety of ways, but their fish were often
frozen and were simply thawed in heated water, then consumed. A certain
amount of cooking might have taken place, but according to V. Stefansson,
any cooking was minimal at best.

I do not doubt that there are lots of counter-examples of HG cultures doing
a lot of cooking.  

I'm not an advocate of raw or cooked food but I believe that the question is
complex and am skeptical of any absolute position. 

Best Wishes, 
Ron