Recognizing Fire in the Paleolithic Archaeological Record

Goldberg, Paul; Miller, Christopher E.; Mentzer, Susan M.

doi:10.1086/692729

Cited by 65 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…We need of course to keep in mind that fires are natural processes and a phenomenon that has occurred throughout Earth's geological history. Ultimately, therefore, reconstructing instances of anthropogenic (human-made) fire cannot rely solely on the nature of the artifacts per se (the aforementioned direct and indirect proxies) but needs to take into consideration their overall contextual association (Goldberg, Miller, and Mentzer 2017). "Context" refers to the entirety of data pertaining to the internal distribution, orientation patterns, and external association of burned sedimentary components.…”

Section: Archaeological Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Approaches to Archaeological Fire Features and Their Behavioral Relevance

Aldeias¹

2017

Current Anthropology

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The uses and functions of fire in early human adaptations are commonly debated and at times very controversial topics. It is important to recognize under what circumstances and conditions specific fire-related traces can be produced and preserved in the archaeological record. Currently, a growing body of data is emerging on the application of experimental research to the study of archaeological hearths and their residues. In this review, I draw together aspects of such available experimental data, particularly those pertaining to the sedimentary expression and components produced during simple campfires. I highlight not only what one can find in ideal preservation conditions but also what type of indirect alteration proxies can be expected to survive in the archaeological record. I then discuss the implications of such data for analyzing anthropic fire features, their timing, and their meaning in terms of behavioral complexity in the use and manufacture of fire during the Paleolithic.

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Section: Archaeological Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Approaches to Archaeological Fire Features and Their Behavioral Relevance

Aldeias¹

2017

Current Anthropology

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“…"Because fire is a natural phenomenon, the identification of burned remains at an archaeological site is generally not considered to be, on its own, convincing evidence for human use of fire" (31).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wooden tools and fire technology in the early Neanderthal site of Poggetti Vecchi (Italy)

Aranguren

Revedin²,

Amico

et al. 2018

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

109

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Excavations for the construction of thermal pools at Poggetti Vecchi (Grosseto, Tuscany, central Italy) exposed a series of wooden tools in an open-air stratified site referable to late Middle Pleistocene. The wooden artifacts were uncovered, together with stone tools and fossil bones, largely belonging to the straight-tusked elephant The site is radiometrically dated to around 171,000 y B.P., and hence correlated with the early marine isotope stage 6 [Benvenuti M, et al. (2017) 88:327-344]. The sticks, all fragmentary, are made from boxwood () and were over 1 m long, rounded at one end and pointed at the other. They have been partially charred, possibly to lessen the labor of scraping boxwood, using a technique so far not documented at the time. The wooden artifacts have the size and features of multipurpose tools known as "digging sticks," which are quite commonly used by foragers. This discovery from Poggetti Vecchi provides evidence of the processing and use of wood by early Neanderthals, showing their ability to use fire in tool making from very tough wood.

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“…Third, identification of microfeatures and components, and depositional and taphonomic processes, through micromorphologic analysis of resin-impregnated block sediment samples (e.g. Goldberg et al 2001Goldberg et al , 2017Mentzer 2014: 651-656;Stahlschmidt et al 2015).…”

Section: General Combustion Feature Attributesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is now clear that differentiating cultural from natural burnt features requires weighing up multiple lines of macroscale and microscale evidence (e.g. Barbetti 1986: 779;Berna & Goldberg 2007: 108;Goldberg et al 2017;James 1989: 9-10). Stahlschmidt et al (2015: 182) remind us that 'the burden of proof rests on the archaeologists to demonstrate that the evidence for fire clearly represents human action, and not a natural process'.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Moyjil site, south-west Victoria, Australia: excavation of a Last Interglacial charcoal and and burnt stone feature — is it a hearth?

McNiven¹,

Crouch²,

Bowler

et al. 2018

Proc. R. Soc. Vic.

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Claims for a human presence in Australia beyond 60,000 years ago must have a strong evidence base associated with rigorous methodology and intense scrutiny. In this light we present excavation results for Charcoal and Burnt Stone Feature #1 (CBS1) located within coastal dune sediments at Moyjil (Point Ritchie), Warrnambool, that independent geomorphic and OSL dating indicates is of Last Interglacial age (~120,000 years ago). While on plausibility grounds the cultural status of a feature of such great antiquity in Australia is unlikely, a cultural origin for CBS1 is less easily dismissed if assessed with an age-independent methodology. A broad range of macroscale discrimination criteria has been used to assess whether CBS1 is either a cultural hearth or a natural feature such as a burnt tree stump. On balance, evidence marginally supports a cultural origin over a natural origin. However, the absence of associated stone artefacts and faunal remains and the presence of burnt root wood precludes definitive statements on the cultural status of the feature. Our case study is methodologically instructivein terms of the potential complexities and issues of equifinality involved in the archaeological identification of ancient hearths.

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Recognizing Fire in the Paleolithic Archaeological Record

Cited by 65 publications

References 81 publications

Experimental Approaches to Archaeological Fire Features and Their Behavioral Relevance

Experimental Approaches to Archaeological Fire Features and Their Behavioral Relevance

Wooden tools and fire technology in the early Neanderthal site of Poggetti Vecchi (Italy)

The Moyjil site, south-west Victoria, Australia: excavation of a Last Interglacial charcoal and and burnt stone feature — is it a hearth?

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