i'm wondering if you can add to this list. surely there are a lot of uses that i've not thought of...
Some Uses of Fire
Heat/Flame
- straighten spindles and shafts
- warmth
- forcing animals into a preferred direction (hunting)
- modifying vegetation landscape (farming, coppicing)
- rendering food palatable/digestible
- coal-burning containers
- water purification
- cauterizing wounds
- removing seed chaff
- modifying wood, stone and bone for use as tools/handles
- soften materials to bend and to make easier to modify with tools
- scarification tattoos
- hardening the points wooden tools/weapons
- melting hardened substances for use
Smoke
- communication at distance
- waterproofing tanned hides
- food preservation
- a carrier for inhalant medicines
- repel insects
- food preserver
Ash/Char/Soot
- charcoal for easier future fire-building
- mineral paint
- medicine
- salt
- toothpaste
- slipping hair from hides
- deodorizer
Light
- seeing in the dark
- communication at distance
- keeping animals out of camp
- psychological security
Some Uses of Fire
Heat/Flame
- straighten spindles and shafts
- warmth
- forcing animals into a preferred direction (hunting)
- modifying vegetation landscape (farming, coppicing)
- rendering food palatable/digestible
- coal-burning containers
- water purification
- cauterizing wounds
- removing seed chaff
- modifying wood, stone and bone for use as tools/handles
- soften materials to bend and to make easier to modify with tools
- scarification tattoos
- hardening the points wooden tools/weapons
- melting hardened substances for use
Smoke
- communication at distance
- waterproofing tanned hides
- food preservation
- a carrier for inhalant medicines
- repel insects
- food preserver
Ash/Char/Soot
- charcoal for easier future fire-building
- mineral paint
- medicine
- salt
- toothpaste
- slipping hair from hides
- deodorizer
Light
- seeing in the dark
- communication at distance
- keeping animals out of camp
- psychological security