Is it possible to identify temporal differences among combustion features in Middle Palaeolithic palimpsests? The archaeomagnetic evidence: A case study from level O at the Abric Romaní rock-shelter (Capellades, Spain)

Carrancho, Ángel; Villalaín, Juan José; Vallverdú, Josep; Carbonell, Eudald

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.12.083

Cited by 25 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…In Paleolithic contexts archaeological palimpsests can be dissected through lithic raw material units, faunal and lithic refits, archaeostratigraphy or tooth microwear analysis [3,18,25,26,41–45]. High resolution geoarchaeological techniques have also shown to help approach single human occupation episodes [35,46–49].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into the timing, intensity and natural setting of Neanderthal occupation from the geoarchaeological study of combustion structures: A micromorphological and biomarker investigation of El Salt, unit Xb, Alcoy, Spain

et al. 2019

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Middle Paleolithic lithic and faunal assemblages throughout Eurasia reflect short-term Neanderthal occupations, which suggest high group mobility. However, the timing of these short-term occupations, a key factor to assess group mobility and territorial range, remains unresolved. Anthropogenic combustion structures are prominent in the Middle Paleolithic record and conceal information on the timing and intensity and natural setting of their associated human occupations. This paper examines a concentration of eleven combustion structures from unit Xb of El Salt, a Middle Paleolithic site in Spain through a geoarchaeological approach, in search of temporal, human impact and paleoenvironmental indicators to assess the timing, intensity and natural setting of the associated human occupations. The study was conducted using micromorphology, lipid biomarker analysis and compound specific isotope analysis. Results show in situ hearths built on different diachronic topsoils rich in herbivore excrements and angiosperm plant residues with rare anthropogenic remains. These data are suggestive of low impact, short-term human occupations separated by relatively long periods of time, with possible indicators of seasonality. Results also show an absence of conifer biomarkers in the mentioned topsoils and presence of conifer charcoal among the fuel residues (ash), indicating that fire wood was brought to the site from elsewhere. A microscopic and molecular approach in the study of combustion structures allows us to narrow down the timescale of archaeological analysis and contributes valuable information towards an understanding of Neanderthal group mobility and settlement patterns.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into the timing, intensity and natural setting of Neanderthal occupation from the geoarchaeological study of combustion structures: A micromorphological and biomarker investigation of El Salt, unit Xb, Alcoy, Spain

et al. 2019

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“…These efforts have been principally focused on the definition of more temporally bounded analytical frameworks that allows approaching past human behaviours at time scales of analysis as close as possible to the Bethnographic time^(e.g. Bargalló et al 2016;Carrancho et al 2016;Chacón et al 2015;Gabucio et al 2017Gabucio et al , 2018Henry 2012;Machado et al 2017;Martínez et al 2004;Rosell et al 2012;Sánchez et al 2017;Sañudo et al 2015;Spagnolo et al 2016;Vallverdú et al 2005;Vaquero and Pastó 2001;Vaquero et al 2012aVaquero et al , 2012bVaquero et al , 2015. This goal remains elusive given the difficulty that entails the accurate identification and ordering of processes of overlapping, mixing and removing of natural and anthropogenic materials that formed the archaeosedimentary deposits (Audouze and Enloe 1997;Bailey 2007;Binford 1980Binford , 1981Isaac 1981;Lucas 2012;O'Connell 1987;Schiffer 1985;Shott 2008;Stern 1993Stern , 1994.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lithic refitting and the analysis of Middle Palaeolithic settlement dynamics: a high-temporal resolution example from El Pastor rock shelter (Eastern Iberia)

Machado

Mayor

Hernández

et al. 2019

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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Archaeostratigraphic study of the Stratigraphic Unit IV from the Middle Palaeolithic site of El Pastor (Eastern Iberia) has resulted on the definition of high-resolution analytical units mostly corresponding to Bmicro-palimpsests^formed during more than a single human occupation. Analysis of these anthropogenic assemblages has suggested their interpretation as remains from several short-term occupations performed by MIS 3-4 Neanderthals. In this paper, we present an evaluation of this interpretative proposal, focusing on the technical and spatial study of lithic refits. Our aim is to present an empirical work that also contributes to the methodological discussion about refitting studies and behavioural interpretation related to Palaeolithic settlement dynamics.

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“…It is possible to infer time and isolate human occupation episodes through a multidisciplinary approach to archaeological combustion structures (e.g. : [32,35,36]). Nevertheless, ethnoarchaeological, experimental and archaeological data that can be used as reference is still scarce [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[16,71,80]), detection mechanical post-depositional processes affecting combustion structures (e.g. : [30,55,79]) and distinction of occupation events in Palaeolithic hearth-related assemblages [35]. However, the issues of relighting event identification and the effect of taphonomic processes on the fire record have not been explored so far.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An experimental approach to the preservation potential of magnetic signatures in anthropogenic fires

et al. 2019

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Archaeomagnetic and rock-magnetic methods are of great value in the identification of archaeological fire, especially in Palaeolithic sites where evidence is usually scarce, ambiguous or poorly preserved. Although taphonomic processes can significantly modify Palaeolithic combustion structures, the extent to which such processes affect the magnetic record remains unknown. Here we report the results of an archaeomagnetic study involving five, two-to-five-year-old experimental combustion structures in open-air and cave settings. Some of these combustion structures involved post-combustion human actions such as trampling and relighting. Our results show pseudo-single domain (PSD) magnetite as the main magnetic carrier. Wood ash layers of combustion structures are the most magnetic facies followed by thermally altered sediments constituting the combustion substrates. A decreasing magnetic concentration pattern in depth was observed as a function of temperature. Positive correlation was found between good-quality directional data and macroscopically well-preserved combustion structures. Partial thermoremanent magnetization (pTRM) was the main magnetization mechanism identified in the combustion substrate facies. These data coupled with partial thermomagnetic curve experiments show the potential of these methods to estimate maximum temperatures of the last combustion event. Relightings show very good directional results, but they cannot be identified because the time between them is not enough to statistically distinguish directional variations of the local Earth´s magnetic field. The substrate sediment of an intensively trampled combustion structure yielded reliable archaeomagnetic directions. The results are discussed in terms of magnetization preservation potential and the effects of taphonomic processes on the archaeomagnetic record.

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Is it possible to identify temporal differences among combustion features in Middle Palaeolithic palimpsests? The archaeomagnetic evidence: A case study from level O at the Abric Romaní rock-shelter (Capellades, Spain)

Cited by 25 publications

References 47 publications

Insights into the timing, intensity and natural setting of Neanderthal occupation from the geoarchaeological study of combustion structures: A micromorphological and biomarker investigation of El Salt, unit Xb, Alcoy, Spain

Insights into the timing, intensity and natural setting of Neanderthal occupation from the geoarchaeological study of combustion structures: A micromorphological and biomarker investigation of El Salt, unit Xb, Alcoy, Spain

Lithic refitting and the analysis of Middle Palaeolithic settlement dynamics: a high-temporal resolution example from El Pastor rock shelter (Eastern Iberia)

An experimental approach to the preservation potential of magnetic signatures in anthropogenic fires

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