Browsing by Author "Damblon, Freddy"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Fire use during the last glacial maximum: evidence from the epigravettian at korman' 9, middle dniester valley, UkrainePublication . Murphree, William; Ferro‐Vázquez, Cruz; Kulakovska, Larissa; Usyk, Vitalii I.; Kononenko, Olesia; Bosch, Marjolein D.; Haesaerts, Paul; Damblon, Freddy; Pirson, Stéphane; Nigst, Philip R.; Aldeias, VeraThe Last Glacial maximum (LGM), spanning from 26.5 to 19 thousand years before present (ka bp), is a period of extreme climatic degradation associated with reduced biomass production and resource stress throughout Eurasia. Arguably, one of the most fundamental tools for human survival during this cold and arid period was the ability to create, maintain and use fire. While fire is widely considered a ubiquitous tool in modern human behaviour, there are surprisingly few well-described combustion features during the LGM in Europe. In this paper, we provide high-resolution geoarchaeological research into three combustion features associated with Epigravettian occupations at the site of Korman' 9 (Ukraine) with ages falling in the LGM. Our results show distinct variations in the size and structure of the combustion features, potentially indicating multiple occupations within the same layer or reflect differences in site organization or function during a single occupation. Additionally, our analysis shows clear evidence of the effect of solifluction and the lack of preservation of the ash layer(s) of the combustion features, as well as the development of bioturbation features enhanced by anthropogenic input. To better estimate heating temperatures of the combustion events, we employed a novel approach using colour analysis showing temperatures reaching 600 degrees C in the substrate underlying the combustion features. In all, the combustion features at Korman' 9 provide invaluable new insights as well as high resolution description of pyrotechnological behaviours during the LGM, which has been lacking during this critical period in our evolutionary history.
- A first look at the gravettian open-air site ollersdorf-heidenberg (Austria): recent fieldwork and first results on stratigraphy, chronology, organic preservation and combustion activityPublication . Bosch, Marjolein D.; Pirson, Stéphane; Damblon, Freddy; Jambrina-Enríquez, Margarita; Mallol, Carolina; Pryor, Alexander; Murphree, William; Viola, Bence T.; Antl-Weiser, Walpurga Antl-Weise; Nigst, Philip R.The Middle Danube region is a key area for understanding Upper Palaeolithic hunter-gatherer behaviours in a climatic context due to its long loess-palaeosol sequences and rich archaeological record spanning from the onset of the Upper Palaeolithic to the Last Glacial Maximum and beyond. Recently, new approaches focusing on high-resolution studies of the stratigraphy, geoarchaeological studies at microscopic scale and investigations of organic matter at molecular scale (biomarker analyses) have shown great new insights in human behaviour. Many sites in the Middle Danube region have been excavated a long time ago without opportunity to apply such approaches. The aim of this paper is to introduce Ollersdorf-Heidenberg, a loess open-air site. The site is located similar to 26 km northeast of Vienna close to the Morava River valley and preserves several Upper Palaeolithic archaeological horizons. The site has been known since a pipeline construction in 1998. Here, we report the first results of new research at the site including new excavations in two trenches. We describe and analyse the stratigraphy, present a first radiocarbon date, describe and analyse lithic and faunal collections, and assess potential in situ combustion activity and the preservation of organic matter. Research at the site is ongoing, but our preliminary results let us suggest good preservation of organic matter and, hence, Ollersdorf-Heidenberg has a remarkable potential for providing valuable insights in past hunter-gatherer behaviours at the climatic downturn towards the Last Glacial Maximum.