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Simply red? A systematic colour‐based method for identifying archaeological fires
Publication . Ferro‐Vázquez, Cruz; Mallol, Carolina; Aldeias, Vera
The identification and characterization of hearths is crucial for reconstructing the
history of fire use and pyrotechnology. In addition to ashes and charcoals, an active
fire will also produce alterations of the underlying substrate to varying degrees. To
date, however, few studies have addressed how the characteristics of burned substrates relate to pyrotechnology. Here, we systematize the use of colour to identify
burnt sediments by performing quantitative colour measurements in the CIELab
system of experimentally heated soils and sediments. The experimental design included different temperatures, different heating durations and substrates with varied chemical and mineralogical compositions, including naturally red soils and
sediments with different degrees of pedogenesis. The measured colours were analysed by multivariate statistics for diagnosing whether sediments have been heated
or not, and to which temperature. We achieved an accurate identification of heated
versus unheated samples independently of their composition. The determination of
the temperature of heating required prior knowledge of basic mineralogy and chemical properties in the targeted sediments (silicate or carbonate material, total and
secondary Fe, Ca contents and the amount and kind of organic matter). The algorithm developed can be applied to recognize burned layers and estimate burning
temperatures in archaeological contexts.
The evolution of pyrotechnology in the Upper Palaeolithic of Europe
Publication . Murphree, William; Aldeias, Vera
Pyrotechnology, the ability for hominins to use fire as a tool, is considered to be one of the most important behavioural adaptations in human evolution. While several studies have focused on identifying the emergence of fire use and later Middle Palaeolithic Neanderthal combustion features, far fewer have focused on modern human fire use. As a result, we currently have more data characterizing the hominin fire use prior to 50,000 years before present (BP), than we do for Upper Palaeolithic of Europe. Here we review the available data on Upper Palaeolithic fire evidence between 48,000 and 13,000 years BP to understand the evolution of modern human pyrotechnology. Our results suggest regional clustering of feature types during the Aurignacian and further demonstrate a significant change in modern human fire use, namely in terms of the intensification and structural variation between 35,000 and 28,000 years BP. This change also corresponds to the development and spread of the Gravettian technocomplex throughout Europe and may correspond to a shift in the perception of fire. Additionally, we also show a significant lack of available high-resolution data on combustion features during the height of last glacial maximum. Furthermore, we highlight the need for more research into the effects of syn- and post-depositional processes on archaeological combustion materials and a need for more standardization of descriptions in the published literature. Overall, our review shows a significant and complex developmental process for Upper Palaeolithic fire use which in many ways mirrors the behavioural evolution of modern humans seen in other archaeological mediums.
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Funding agency
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Funding programme
Concurso para Financiamento de Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Todos os Domínios Científicos - 2017
Funding Award Number
PTDC/HAR-ARQ/29606/2017