* Tool Use: Evidence of tool use dates back to at least 2.6 million years ago, likely by *Homo habilis*. However, even earlier Australopithecines, like *Australopithecus afarensis* (Lucy's species), may have used rudimentary tools.
* Fire: The earliest well-documented use of fire is around 1 million years ago by *Homo erectus*. However, there is debate about earlier, less certain evidence of fire use in earlier hominins.
* Spoken Language: The origins of spoken language are a mystery. We don't have direct evidence like fossils. While some researchers believe Neanderthals might have had some form of complex language, it's thought *Homo sapiens* likely developed more advanced spoken language capabilities.
Important Note: It's not about "the first" species to do any of these things, but rather how these skills developed over millions of years.
Here's a summary of what we know about these developments:
* Tool Use: Tool use likely started simple and gradually became more sophisticated. *Homo habilis* made stone tools for cutting, chopping, and scraping. Later species developed more complex tools.
* Fire: The use of fire enabled cooking, warmth, protection from predators, and possibly even social bonding. It was a significant development in hominid evolution.
* Spoken Language: While the exact origins remain unclear, the development of complex language in *Homo sapiens* is thought to be key to our ability to communicate, learn, and create complex societies.
In conclusion, it's difficult to claim one single species as the first to do all these things. Each species developed new skills and abilities, building on what came before. The story of human evolution is one of gradual, continuous development, making it challenging to identify precise "firsts."