What kind of fuel did humans burn before they learned about burning coal?

1 Answer
Oct 27, 2017

Mainly Wood

Explanation:

Trees provided that main source of fuel before the discovering of coal. Other organic materials were burned for fuel when wood was not readily available. Straw, brush, grass, even cow dung were burned for fuel.

Anything containing Carbon will burn, combining with Oxygen to create heat energy. Alcohol distilled from fermented organic sugar with burn with a very high heat.

Wood is a highly concentrated source of organic Carbon and was the preferred source of heat energy or fuel before the widespread use of coal.

( Note coal is prettified wood and organic carbon with most of the water removed by head and pressure. )