Neandertal Use of Fire - Comparing RDM to Pech IV

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Interestingly, preliminary data from micromorphology, phytoliths, studies of the burned plant remains, as well as what is known of the fauna, shows that, at both Roc de Marsal and Pech IV, the abundance of fires in the lower levels occurred during a temperate climatic phase.

This raises an interesting question as to their function.

While providing warmth would seem to be an obvious explanation, the fact is that at both Pech de l'Azé IV and Roc de Marsal their use decreases in the later colder periods.

It should also be pointed out that the lack of combustion features in the overlying levels at both of these sites is not simply a question of preservation.

One of the best proxies of fire within a site is burned archaeological materials – either lithics or bone. Our analysis of the lithics, for example, shows a steady decrease in the percentage of burned flint throughout the sequence, with very little represented in the overlying Quina levels (Levels 2-4) where there are also no visible traces of combustion features (see figure above).

This same pattern is repeated at Pech IV, where the lack of hearths also coin-cides with a colder climate and similar changes in both the lithic and faunal industries. Thus, it is unlikely that the evidence suggesting that fires became less common in the overlying levels is just a question of preservation.