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One of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries in Britain has been made in Suffolk as scientists discover the proof of fire-making by humans 400,000 years ago. Previously, the oldest known evidence of fire-making was from 50,000 years ago in northern France. However, research suggests that humans were making fire 350,000 years earlier than previously known. The find was made at a disused clay pit near Barnham, Suffolk, between Thetford and Bury St Edmunds.

Professor Nick Ashton, curator of Palaeolithic Collections at the British Museum, said it was the "most exciting discovery of my 40-year career". Fire-cracked flint hand axes and heated sediments were found at the Barnham site alongside two fragments of iron pyrite - a mineral used to strike sparks with flint. Geological studies indicate that pyrite is rare in the area, suggesting it was deliberately brought to the site for fire-making.

It took four years for a team, led by researchers at the British Museum, to demonstrate that the heated clay was not caused by wildfire.

Geochemical tests indicated repeated fire use at the same site, more typical of human use than wildfires.

The controlled use of fire had "profound effects on human evolution", say the study's authors, increasing survival in harsh environments through warmth and protection from predators.

Other benefits included cooking - widening the range of foods that could be safely eaten - and the creation of lit spaces that became focal points for social interaction.

Dr Rob Davis, project curator: Pathways to Ancient Britain at the British Museum, said the hearth area was about "half a metre in diameter, sort of (a) small campfire".

Professor Chris Stringer, of the Natural History Museum, said it is thought that the fires at Barnham were being made by early neanderthal people, but their identity is not directly known.

He said that "around this time period brain size was increasing to its present levels".

"There's no doubt that our brains are energetically expensive," said Prof Stringer.

"They use about 20% of our body energy so having the use of fire, having the ability to make fire, is going to help release nutrition from the food which will help to fuel that brain, help to run it and indeed allow the evolution of a bigger brain."

He added that having the use of fire would have helped people "moving to places where the winters are going to be colder".

"It may have even fuelled the development of language," he said.

"I think having this information that it was there 400,000 years ago really means we've got a key aspect, a crucial aspect in human evolution."