Combustion structures of archaeological level O and mousterian activity areas with use of fire at the Abric Romaní rockshelter (NE Iberian Peninsula)

The human use of fire generates a cultural sedimentary record that can be used to characterize prehistoric activity areas. The aim of this paper is to develop a field guide for recognizing and describing combustion structures. The use of fire as suggested by the results of ethnoarchaeological and prehistoric archaeological studies has served as the foundation for the analytical design of the field observations of the combustion structures at the Abric Romani rockshelter. Flat and concave combustion structure types have been uncovered in archaeological level O. The systematic recording of the sedimentary and dimensional attributes of the combustion structures can be used as empirical evidence with which to characterize the use of fire. Differences in the use of fire represent a significant finding in the cultural repertoires of Neanderthals. Recognizing and recording the specific organizational patterns of these activity areas, such as fire-use in sleeping and resting activity areas, indicate the definitive emergence of home bases in the spatial record of the living floors of the archaic human groups.