Provider: Moravian Museum, Brno, Czech Republic

TY  - JOUR
JO  - Anthropologie (Brno)
TI  - Experiments Around the Fire. Discovering Human and Natural Processes in Middle Paleolithic Hearts
AU  - Irene Ortiz Nieto-Márquez
AU  - Javier Baena Preysler
Y1  - 2015
VL  - 53
IS  - 3
PB  - Moravian Museum, Brno, Czech Republic
SN  - 0323-1119
SP  - 501
EP  - 518
KW  - Hearth – Spatial analysis – GIS – Refits – Middle Paleolithic
N2  - 
N2  - The use of fire technology in prehistoric societies is very well known. However, research is still being
carried out into its production and control during the middle Paleolithic period. The study of hearths has illustrated
the social aspects of human groups through studies of their typology and morphology, the study of the combustible
materials and the spatial distribution of remains. In the latter case it is important to differentiate that which has
occurred naturally or as a result of human activity. Another factor which must also be considered is the influence of
the location of the materials used to make the fire, as well as the temperatures.
In this paper we present a comparative study of experimental fire places with archaeological examples from the El
Cañaveral middle Paleolithic site. This study analyzes the relationship between temperature, location inside the
fireplace, and the spatial distribution of heated elements in order to consider the "fire spatial displacements". By
controlling variations in the distribution of elements, due to fire fragmentations, and with the assistance of refits, we
will discuss the existence of other post sedimentary agents, as well as knapping methods. Using these approaches we
will attempt to determine some patterns of Neanderthal activities around hearths, and show some dynamic aspects of lithic tools life.
ER  -