Combining charcoal and magnetic susceptibility analyses: evaluation of post-depositional processes in unit IV from Abric del Pastor (Middle Palaeolithic, Iberia)

Abstract

Hearth-related accumulations are a common feature in Middle Palaeolithic sites and their spatial characterization is essential to recognize the cultural processes involved in the formation of archaeological sites (Vaquero and Pastó, 2001). Although spatial analyses are mostly based on lithic and faunal remains as key elements for the identification of synchronic and diachronic relationships among artifacts resulting from several occupation events, these spatial techniques are being increasingly used in other proxies like archaeobotanical studies, i.e. wood charcoal and seeds (Snir et al., 2015; Vidal-Matutano, 2017). Here we present an innovative methodological approach combining the spatial analyses of fuel remains and the magnetic susceptibility values from units IVe and IVf of Abric del Pastor, a MIS 4-3 Middle Palaeolithic site located in Southeastern Iberia. Spatial distribution data of these proxies show coincidences suggesting the spread over the surface of fuel remains and burnt facies by natural and/or anthropogenic factors. Thus, this work proposes the use of this method as a useful tool to evaluate possible postdepositional processes affecting archaeological surfaces with partially dismantled or bad preserved combustion features or anthracological contexts without a clear anthropogenic origin.