The aim of this thesis is to study the function of prehistoric hearths and to take the first step in creating guidelines for the excavation, sampling and analysis of prehistoric hearths. Although...Show moreThe aim of this thesis is to study the function of prehistoric hearths and to take the first step in creating guidelines for the excavation, sampling and analysis of prehistoric hearths. Although the study of hearths and their function can provide valuable information about past human behaviour there appear to be no real guidelines available for this type of research. This results in loss of valuable information and possible misinterpretation of hearths. Part 1 of this thesis gives an introduction of various aspects of hearths, such as their origins, their forms and functions, different types of fuel and some analysis methods that can be applied to study them. Part 2 consists of a case study of a hearth from the French middle Neolithic site Trinité-sur-Mer. For this study one of the 15 hearths present at the site was analysed in order to determine its function. For this purpose reflectance analysis carried out on the charcoal fragments from three different samples from the hearth in order to get an idea of the temperatures that were reached in the hearth. Some specific choices regarding the manner of sampling and processing the samples were made and phytolith analysis was carried out to determine whether these choices resulted in as little damage and loss of material as possible. It was found that the choices made within this study had the desired effect. Furthermore the reflectance analysis and fuel determination showed that the hearth from Trinité-sur-Mer probably was a domestic hearth fuelled with wood of Quercus sp. and reached temperatures of at least 400 °C.Show less
