Man tamed fire long ago. At least to the extent it can be tamed. It still gets out of man’s control on occasion — consuming forests, grasslands, or man-made structures.
Cooking. Light. Heat. Our ancestors were concerned with the same basics we continue to require. The method or fuel may have changed, but the desired result remains the same. Safe food. Safety to move at night. Warmth to protect our bodies.
And from an early time, man developed portable light sources. Torches were fueled by pitch or oil. Candles provided light and were used in ceremonies for centuries — and then there was this.
It’s easy to imagine a farmer ancestor lighting this at the cabin fireplace and using it to light his way to the barn. Then he will hand it from a hood on a sturdy beam and mild the family cow.
