The evolution of fire and ritual: a Durkheimian perspective

Durkheim envisioned the evolution of religion as an expression of the dialectical relationship between people living in society with the forces that emerge from this society. His evolutionary scenario was built on living and historic societies, primarily Aboriginal Australians, Biblical Jews, Catholics, and 19th Century cosmopolitan Europeans. This article explores the potential of applying Durkheim’s conceptual framework to the palaeoanthropological record with a focus on the potential role of fire in the emergence of ritual. This inquiry entails a consideration of the structure of evolutionary processes and the current archaeological record for the early engagement with fire.