Researchers may have found the time in history when human beings first spoke. An expert in prehistory believes that basic language started 1.6 million years ago. This is eight times earlier than scientists thought. Experts previously believed that spoken human language began 200,000 years ago. Studies show that the first human language developed in eastern or southern Africa. He said the ability to speak helped evolution. The expert said speech was, "without doubt, the key which made much of…human physical and cultural evolution possible".

The expert wrote about how human speech developed in his new book called, "The Language Puzzle". He says our brain increased in size over 1.5 million years ago. This changed the structure of our brain. An area developed that produced language. Another important change was the development of tissue that could make sounds, and therefore speech. This allowed humans to move all over the world. It meant humans could think of and plan future actions, and they could pass on knowledge. The expert said language changed the human story enormously.