A recent study proposes a new idea about how the first Neolithic potters may have been inspired by naturally occurring fires, rather than inventing clay firing from scratch. Amos Frumkin, a geomorphologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, suggests that environmental changes in the southern Levant—modern-day Israel, Jordan, and surrounding areas—may have exposed clay-rich materials that Neolithic people observed and later used for pottery. This idea is known as the "natural kiln hypothesis." Published in the journal Geomorphology, the study combines data from ancient sediments, caves, charcoal deposits, and archaeological sites to reconstruct how fires and erosion reshaped the southern Levant during two periods of environmental instability. The first period occurred around 129,000 to 116,000 years ago, while the second, which Frumkin focuses on, spans approximately 11,000 to 7,000 years ago. This second period coincides with the emergence of ceramics in the region, suggesting a possible link between environmental changes and the development of pottery. Between 9,500 and 8,200 years ago, the southern Levant experienced intense burning, which led to the erosion of vegetation and soils. This process exposed clay-rich sediments that accumulated in valleys and depressions, creating fertile areas where early farmers settled. These clay-rich soils, known as terra rossa, were found in the Jordan Valley and around the Dead Sea, forming thick deposits called the Fazael and Ze'elim formations. Archaeological sites such as Sha'ar Hagolan, Jericho, Netiv Hagdud, and Gilgal are located on these redeposited soils, suggesting a link between the environmental changes and the development of Neolithic settlements. The Yarmoukian pottery, one of the oldest ceramics found in Israel, was made from locally redeposited terra rossa, supporting the hypothesis that naturally fired clay influenced the development of pottery. However, the study notes that a similar period of intense fires 120,000 years earlier did not lead to the development of pottery. Frumkin suggests that environmental factors alone were not sufficient for the invention of pottery, and that a society capable of recognizing and utilizing these environmental changes was likely needed. He also acknowledges that the natural kiln hypothesis remains speculative and requires further research to confirm the chronology of naturally fired clay fragments in relation to the first intentional pottery. Other theories suggest that prehistoric peoples may have accidentally discovered pottery by leaving clay-coated baskets near fires. Frumkin does not rule out these alternative explanations, noting that different regions may have developed pottery through various means. The study highlights a shift in perspective on environmental disasters, suggesting that while fires are typically seen as destructive, they may have also exposed new materials and opportunities for human innovation.