Burning, dumping, and site use during the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic at Hohle Fels Cave, SW Germany

A long-standing assumption about Neanderthals' use of Hohle Fels Cave during the Middle Palaeolithic has been challenged by new evidence. Analysis of anthropogenic deposits, employing micromorphology and fabric analysis, reveals that Neanderthals intentionally dumped burnt material from domestic hearths in specific locations within the cave, indicating a high degree of spatial patterning and site maintenance. This intentionality contradicts earlier hypotheses suggesting less intense occupation during this period. The study also provides insights into regional variability in pyrotechnology and site use dynamics between the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic periods.

Marcazzan, D., Miller, C. E., & Conard, N. J. (2022). Burning, dumping, and site use during the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic at Hohle Fels Cave, SW Germany. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 14(9). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-022-01647-7