Researchers say they have found the likely time history when human beings first began to speak. Dr Steven Mithen, an archaeologist and expert prehistory, suggested that basic language was formed 1.6 million years ago. This is eight times earlier than many scientists thought. Experts evolution previously believed that spoken human language began around 200,000 years ago. Mithen said his studies show that the first human language developed either eastern or southern Africa. He said the ability to speak helped evolution. He said speech was, " doubt, the key which made much subsequent human physical and cultural evolution possible".
Dr Mithen explains how he believes human speech developed so long ago his new book called, "The Language Puzzle". He says our brain quickly increased size just 1.5 million years ago. This increase changed the structure our brain. An area called the frontal lobe developed. This is the part the brain that produces language. Another important change was the development our vocal tract. This is where we produce sound, and therefore speech. Mithen said speech allowed humans to spread the world. It meant humans could do three important things. They could think and plan future actions, and they could pass knowledge. Mithen said language "changed the human story profoundly".
