The deliberate use of bones for fuel or for systematic disposal of organic waste

What is it about?

This study try to explain the presence of burnt bones assemblages associated to domestic hearths in a Mousterian site of Northern Spain. The first part show the results of some experiments carried out with goat bones according to the main faunal assemblages of the site, demonstrating that small size animals also posess appropiate qualities for its use as fuel. This study also critically evaluates whether bones could have been used as fuel by neanderthals of el Esquilleu or whether their combustion resulted from other behavioural practises

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Why is it important?

This work is important because it demonstrate for the first time that bones of small sized animals are suitable properties to be used as fuel. Because it is the first study made in Iberia. Last but no least the critical discusion about the reasons that led neanderthals to the systematic use of bones in domestic hearths: fuel or systematic disposal of organic waste?

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