Technological analysis of burned bones and its implications for Paleolithic archaeology

doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2019.0022

Abstract

Abstract:

Burned bones are commonly found in Paleolithic sites. As one particular category of fire-use residues, burned bones are significant to a due understanding of the repertoire of hominin behaviors. However, the significance of these objects still remains largely unexplored in Chinese Paleolithic sites. In this paper, we present a review of analytical techniques in observation and quantification of the main features, including colors, fracture patterns, black carbon content, bone histology changes and the crystallinity of hydroxyapatite, of the burned skeletal remains from a variety of contexts. We also mention three types of fire-use behavior that may be related to burnt bones researchs. In this way, we seek to provide a referential framework for future analysis of the burned bones from archaeological sites of China.

Key words: Burned bone, Fire-use residue, Human Behavior, Paleolithic, Zooarchaeology

CLC Number:

K871.1/Q915.86

HUANG Chao, ZHANG Shuangquan. Technological analysis of burned bones and its implications for Paleolithic archaeology[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2020, 39(02): 249-260.

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