From Evenk campfires to prehistoric hearths: charcoal analysis as a tool for identifying the use of rotten wood as fuel

Henry, Auréade; Théry‐Parisot, Isabelle

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2014.09.005

Cited by 77 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Different 87 activities requiring fire use flame, heat and smoke to varying degrees, which directly affects 88 which fuel is best suited to the job (Kephart, 1906); for example rotten wood may be used to 89 generate smoke for smoking hides, or a mix of green and dead wood may be used to slow a 90 fire down. There is thus a range of wood types that may be burned for different purposes with 91 no single characteristic for 'good wood fuel' (Henry and Théry-Parisot, 2014 (Ingstad, 1954:211). 121 122 Suitable sources for gathering dead wood include still-attached and shed branches, snags 123 (standing dead trees), fallen trunks and stumps and rotting roots.…”

Section: Procuring Firewood 84mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conversely, if firewood was a scarce resource, the location of firewood supplies would have 58 been an integral part of decision-making regarding the positioning of sites within a landscape 59 just as other resources such as water, prey or lithic raw materials, with supplies deliberately 60 managed or 'curated' through time (Heizer, 1963;Henry and Théry-Parisot, 2014). 61…”

Section: Introduction 18mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reflections on Gravettian firewood procurement near the Pavlov Hills, Czech Republic

Pryor

Pullen

Beresford‐Jones

et al. 2016

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology

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This paper draws attention to firewood as a natural resource that was gathered, processed and consumed on a daily basis by Palaeolithic groups. Using Gravettian occupation of the Pavlovské Hills as a case study (dated to around 30,000 years B.P.), we investigate firewood availability using archaeological, palaeoenvironmental and ecological data, including making inferences from charcoal in Pavlovian hearths. The collated evidence suggests that while dead wood was likely readily available in woodland areas where humans had not recently foraged, longer term occupations -or repeated occupation of the same area by different groups -would have quickly exhausted naturallyoccurring supplies. Once depleted, the deadwood pool may have taken several generations (~40-120 years) to recover enough to provide fuel for another base camp occupation. Such exhaustion of deadwood supplies is well attested ethnographically. Thus, we argue that Pavlovian groups likely managed firewood supplies using methods similar to those used by recent hunter-gatherers: through planned geographic mobility and by deliberately killing trees years in advance of when wood was required, so leaving time for the wood to dry out. Such management of fuel resources was, we argue, critical to human expansion into these cold, hitherto marginal, ecologies during the Late Glacial. Highlights-Firewood strongly influenced mobility and basecamp location in the Palaeolithic -Unexplored wooded areas likely contained substantial firewood supplies -Depleted deadwood pools required generations (40-120 years) to recover naturally -Groups managed their deadwood supply by deliberately killing trees years in advance.

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Section: Procuring Firewood 84mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction 18mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reflections on Gravettian firewood procurement near the Pavlov Hills, Czech Republic

Pryor

Pullen

Beresford‐Jones

et al. 2016

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology

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“…The weak presence of riverine taxa at Abric del Pastor suggests that physiological state of the wood, particularly the moisture content, determines firewood selection strategies demonstrated by ethnographical studies (Smart and Hoffman, 1988;Henry et al, 2009Henry et al, , 2014. According to the Principle of Least Effort (Shackleton and Prins, 1992;Chabal, 1997), all the species existing in a reduced area were equally available and collected by past human groups.…”

Section: Fuelwood Gathering Vs Other Purposesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neanderthal firewood management: evidence from Stratigraphic Unit IV of Abric del Pastor (Eastern Iberia)

Vidal-Matutano

Hernández

Galván

et al. 2015

Quaternary Science Reviews

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a b s t r a c tThis paper presents anthracological data from Abric del Pastor (Alcoi, Spain), a Middle Paleolithic rock shelter site. Analysis of 1077 wood charcoal remains from Stratigraphic Unit IV (S.U. IV), collected within archaeological combustion structures and from loose sediment outside of structures, allowed us to characterise the local landscape, as well as to approach the interaction between Neanderthal groups and their local environment. Taxonomic identification suggests that firewood was gathered from nearby sources, with predominance of juniper (Juniperus sp.) followed by thermophilous shrubby taxa. Additional analysis focussing on post-depositional processes affecting charcoal have shown features indicative of biodegradation and mechanical action. The results of this study contribute significant anthracological data towards our understanding of Late Pleistocene Mediterranean landscapes and Neanderthal forest management in this region.

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“…The physical characteristics and moisture content of wood determines its heating qualities as well as its suitability for smoking hides and repelling insects. Consequently, ethnographic studies of fuel use, and experimental studies that attempt to replicate preservation and document features that are discernible archaeologically, are broadening the range of questions that can be asked through observations of fuel (Braadbaart et al 2012;Henry and Théry-Parisot 2014;Picornell Gelabert et al 2011;Théry-Parisot et al 2005).…”

Section: Mini-reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Fuel Use in Antiquity: Archaeobotanical and Anthracological Approaches in Southwest Asia

Smith

Dotzel

Fountain

et al. 2015

EBL

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This article considers the study of wood and dung fuel use in antiquity across Southwest Asia by anthracologists and archaeobotanists. In recent years, the socially conditioned nature of fuel use has been highlighted and many scholars are stressing the central importance of fuel to pre-modern societies as on par with subsistence and tool use. By elevating and unifying the study of ancient fuel through anthracological, archaeobotanical, geochemical, and micromorphological studies, detailed insights into cultural practices, decision making, and resource use in the past can be gained. We provide a brief review of studies examining ancient fuel use and reflect on the integration of wood and seed data where seed assemblages are indicative of dung fuel use.

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From Evenk campfires to prehistoric hearths: charcoal analysis as a tool for identifying the use of rotten wood as fuel

Cited by 77 publications

References 28 publications

Reflections on Gravettian firewood procurement near the Pavlov Hills, Czech Republic

Reflections on Gravettian firewood procurement near the Pavlov Hills, Czech Republic

Neanderthal firewood management: evidence from Stratigraphic Unit IV of Abric del Pastor (Eastern Iberia)

Examining Fuel Use in Antiquity: Archaeobotanical and Anthracological Approaches in Southwest Asia

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