One of the most integral aspects of human civilization is the urge to form families. The sense of togetherness in the battle for survival is one of the major precursors of human civilization. The whole idea of the family gave birth to the concept of communities with common needs and goals to be fulfilled. Unlike modern-day families, in the pre-historic days, families looked to cater to necessities for survival and that’s why families often migrated from one part to the other. In this regard, natural and man-made lighting had a deeper impact on families, ultimately paving the path for strong community bonding.
Family or community time includes scheduled work or leisure, which pushed for bigger innovations, and lighting was one among them. Whether it is the celebration of a big catch in the jungle or lazying around or spending quality time with peers – community places demanded a whole new idea of lighting. With a sense of insecurity or vulnerability against the carnivores of the jungle or natural catastrophe, lighting provided a major guide in the pre-historic phase. The innovations in controlling fire and using it as per needs gained importance after the discovery of fire. This considerably reduced the risk of wildfire and boosted forest health and also helped to reduce combustible debris and return and recycle nutrients to the soil.
In all community or family circles, especially in time frames post-sunset or before sunrise, the need for proper lighting was felt. In this regard, stone lamps, fireplaces, and animal lamps became popular in the pre-historic days.
