Lec 07

Question 1

Fire?

Answer 1

Humans is the only species that can control fire, BUT, not the only species that recognizes its worth.

Not only for cooking + warmth, BUT rather an instrument that controls ecosystems

Fire evidence is hard to pinpoint: ~1.5mya

Question 2

Locations of Fire evidence?

Answer 2

Koobi Fora, Chesowanja, Wonderwerk, Kalambo Falls, Gesher BY, Zhoukoudian, Terra Amata

Question 3

Koobi Fora + Chesowanja

Answer 3

Open air sites, Kenya
Fora = ~1.5mya, Chesowanja = ~1.42mya
Burned sediments + heat altered tools
thermally altered lithics, soil aggregates, bone fragments

Question 4

Wonderwerk Cave?

Answer 4

S. Africa, 1mya
Acheulean Technologies (large cutting tools)

Question 5

GC-MS?

Answer 5

1. Gas chromatography: chemical separation by turning them into a gas, funneling them out by speed.
2. Mass spectrometry: identifies chemicals by breaking them into tiny pieces and measuring their weight.

PAHs are released when organics like wood are burned:
1. Phenanthrene
2. Methylphenanthrene
3. Fluoranthene
4. Byrene

• Micromorphology used to find micro-charcoal sediments
• Spectroscopic shows peaks w/ high temperatures

Question 6

Gesher BY?

Answer 6

800Kya ~
Oldest SOLID evidence of fire
Fire activity occupation
plant cross-sections can showcase burning

Question 7

Fire Migration?

Answer 7

Fire mastery was important to fighting colder climates
Could reach 0 degrees celsius, but the latitude = greater seasonality
Plant growth stops during the winter, so hunting game was necessary.