Combustion Features

An integrated micromorphological and phytolith study of urban soils and sediments from the Gallo‐Roman town Atuatuca Tungrorum, Belgium

“…The charcoal fragments are not as abundant as one would expect, so that herbaceous plants were likely the dominant source of ash. The presence of numerous fragments of phytolith slag (Figure f) indicates that high temperatures were reached (e.g., 850–1,700°C according to the alkali fluxes; Mallol et al, ).…”

“…The intensive bioturbation, as witnessed by numerous galleries (Figure a,b) and fecal pellets, makes it difficult to distinguish between an intact fire combustion feature and a secondary deposition. However, the (discontinuous) preservation of more or less horizontally layered lenses of charcoal, articulated calcareous ashes and lenses of almost articulated phytoliths suggest in situ burning (Figure a,b,d; Mallol, Mentzer, & Miller, ). Further evidence is the reddening of the soil aggregates at the lower contact zone (Aldeias, Dibble, Sandgathe, Goldberg, & McPherron, ).…”

Insights into the timing, intensity and natural setting of Neanderthal occupation from the geoarchaeological study of combustion structures: A micromorphological and biomarker investigation of El Salt, unit Xb, Alcoy, Spain

“…According to published descriptions of Middle Paleolithic combustion structures [37,59–61], their macroscopic appearance generally conforms with the structure of simple, flat, circular, multi-layered structures exhibiting a succession of: a reddish or brownish layer at the base (here onwards Red Layer or RL), overlain by a dark brown to black layer (BL) and capped by a gray to whiteish layer (WL) [62]. Previous studies have hypothesized that the WL contains combustion-related residues, while the BL and RL are the combustion substrate representing burned topsoil beneath the fire [41,47,63]. If we consider the ephemeral archaeological fingerprint of short-term human occupations, Middle Paleolithic BL and RL deposits are unlikely to yield behavioral evidence.…”

“…This shortcoming hampers our assessment of Neanderthal occupations based on the combustion structure record as introduced in the previous paragraphs. First, identification of short-lived hearths is not possible with the naked eye because relighting, rake-out and distinguishing between single and multiple burning events requires microscopic examination [63]. Second, there are a plethora of natural taphonomic factors that may modify the macroscopic appearance of combustion structures [63].…”

“…First, identification of short-lived hearths is not possible with the naked eye because relighting, rake-out and distinguishing between single and multiple burning events requires microscopic examination [63]. Second, there are a plethora of natural taphonomic factors that may modify the macroscopic appearance of combustion structures [63]. Third, the nature of WL and BL deposits lies in their components, which are often only sedimentary and identifiable at microscopic and molecular scales.…”