The use of fire is one of the most relevant turning-point events in human evolution. However, the visibility of human-made fire in the archaeological record is low. The Fire-Tools project, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, proposes testing a new methodological approach to deepen our knowledge about the use of fire. The project will combine archaeobotanical (phytoliths) and chemical (PAHs) analyses of samples from two Middle Pleistocene (400-300ka) sites in Iberia where there is indirect evidence of fire. In addition to substantiating the use of fire at these prehistoric sites, the project will provide research tools for future studies into prehistoric records of fire. 

Objective

The use of fire is an element that characterizes the genus homo and one of the technologies that more substantially modifies prehistoric life systems. Nevertheless, the oldest evidences of fire are often more controversial and difficult to identify. The Fire-Tools project address the habitual use of fire in two peninsular archaeological sites with indirect evidence of fire in their levels and dated between the 400-300ky: Sima del Elefante (Atapuerca, Spain) and La Cansaladeta (La Riba, Spain). This geographical and chronological range has been carefully selected: the Iberian Peninsula provides the ecological conditions (wood availability) for the use of fire throughout the Pleistocene, and the habitual use of fire is stipulated as the most accepted hypothesis during this period. Fire-Tools Project aims to apply a cross-cutting approach integrating archaeobotanical (Phytoliths) and chemical analytical (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) procedures in these two case studies to improve the analytical capacity to identify and characterize the pyroarchaeological record with low visibility. Furthermore, the project will create a widen and complete modern reference collection of phytoliths from woody plants, as an important analytical tool to address the pyroarchaeological record in Paleolithic sites. Additionally, the Fire-Tools project will evaluate the integration between the analysis of archaeobotanical microrremains and chemical elements with the archaeological data available from each archaeological site. The expected results of the methodological proposal seek to be of further application in other archaeological and chronocultural contexts with the presence of fire. In sum, the results of this project will allow knowing the relationship that the hominids of the Middle Pleistocene had with fire in the context of Iberia, validating a methodological and analytical approach to study the fire record across Prehistory.

Results