Unravelling prehistoric fire use: Variation in fire conditions equals variation in human behavior:
Building a fire involves many variables, such as size, choice of fuel, temperature, and burn time, that affect the way the generated heat can be used, and therefore the potential function of a fire. A group of Leiden archeologists are, together with a team of international colleagues, investigating remains of Paleolithic hearths in order to characterize the use of fire by our distant ancestors. Results of this project, initiated by the late Freek Braadbaart, were recently published in the Journal of Archeological Science. We spoke with one of the authors, ancient fire expert Femke Reidsma.
[...] Eighteen Upper Paleolithic hearths from the famous site of Abri Pataud were analyzed. Abri Pataud is a rock shelter with a well-preserved sequence, located in the Southwest of France. "These prehistoric hearths consist of ashy material, highly fragmented charcoal, and heated bone," Femke Reidsma explains. Using a combination of new techniques and reference data, the researchers explore the remains' clues on the application of the fire. "We can now analyze the materials to get to the heating conditions of former fires."
[...] Summarizing, Reidsma concludes that the main takeaway of this approach is that it is the way forward. "By combining the results from different methods and different materials we got a much clearer and complete picture than we would have gotten if we only looked at the charcoal or the bone. In terms of archeological interpretations, we confirmed suspicions that were already there. The discovery of the dung and the debunking of the bone-as-fuel theory also have implications for other sites."
Journal Reference:
F. Braadbaart, F. H. Reidsma, W. Roebroeks, et al. Heating histories and taphonomy of ancient fireplaces: A multi-proxy case study from the Upper Palaeolithic sequence of Abri Pataud (Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, France), (DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102468)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 26 2020, @06:39PM (1 child)
> Results of this project, initiated by the late Freek Braadbaart, ...
Is that Slartibartfast's cousin?
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Slarty [urbandictionary.com]
Or a previously unidentified member of the Furry Freak Brothers?
http://comiconlinefree.net/the-fabulous-furry-freak-brothers/issue-1 [comiconlinefree.net]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 27 2020, @01:16AM
Took my own advice, things were a little slow today, so I started reading some Furry Freak Bros. It's surprising how many things are still the same as they were in c.1969 when I first read these. Sure the old TV's have little picture tubes and there are no smart phones, but human nature seems to be a constant.
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Monday October 26 2020, @07:26PM (2 children)
It turns out that Karen and Chad trying to hold the perfect gender reveal party are in fact dumber than their equivalents in the Stone Age.
"Think of how stupid the average person is. Then realize half of 'em are stupider than that." - George Carlin
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 26 2020, @08:14PM
Yeah, back in the stone age, they knew enough to feel between baby's legs to figure out the gender. Or, wait for sunrise to look.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 27 2020, @12:32PM
Well, human brains have shrunk since the development of agriculture... Intense soecialization as required in an advanced economy, allows for less capable people on average.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Snotnose on Monday October 26 2020, @08:58PM (2 children)
Early folks weren't that stupid. They quickly realized the advantages of fire and quickly figured out A) different ways of starting them; B) what burned and what didn't; C) cooking food; and c) heating certain rocks made tungsten steel knives much more effective against wood sharpened in charcoal fires.
Well, maybe not the tungsten steel thing, but you get the idea.
It was a once in a lifetime experience. Which means I'll never do it again.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 26 2020, @10:02PM
All meat taste better as BBQ. Even Grog knows that.
(Score: 4, Informative) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday October 27 2020, @12:46AM
The bones were in there for the same reasons you throw bones in a campfire today.
A) Throwing stuff in the fire is fun.
B) They didn't have trash cans.
C) Bones with all the delicious burned off don't attract bugs or critters.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 27 2020, @02:20AM
Fire work for fending off sabertoothed LEA decoys.