Project description
Testing tools to identify traces of fire in the Pleistocene archaeological record
The use of fire is one of the most relevant turning-point events in human evolution. However, the visibility of human-made fire in the archaeological record is low. The Fire-Tools project, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, proposes testing a new methodological approach to deepen our knowledge about the use of fire. The project will combine archaeobotanical (phytoliths) and chemical (PAHs) analyses of samples from two Middle Pleistocene (400-300ka) sites in Iberia where there is indirect evidence of fire. In addition to substantiating the use of fire at these prehistoric sites, the project will provide research tools for future studies into prehistoric records of fire.
Objective
The use of fire is an element that characterizes the genus homo and one of the technologies that more substantially modifies prehistoric life systems. Nevertheless, the oldest evidences of fire are often more controversial and difficult to identify. The Fire-Tools project address the habitual use of fire in two peninsular archaeological sites with indirect evidence of fire in their levels and dated between the 400-300ky: Sima del Elefante (Atapuerca, Spain) and La Cansaladeta (La Riba, Spain). This geographical and chronological range has been carefully selected: the Iberian Peninsula provides the ecological conditions (wood availability) for the use of fire throughout the Pleistocene, and the habitual use of fire is stipulated as the most accepted hypothesis during this period. Fire-Tools Project aims to apply a cross-cutting approach integrating archaeobotanical (Phytoliths) and chemical analytical (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) procedures in these two case studies to improve the analytical capacity to identify and characterize the pyroarchaeological record with low visibility. Furthermore, the project will create a widen and complete modern reference collection of phytoliths from woody plants, as an important analytical tool to address the pyroarchaeological record in Paleolithic sites. Additionally, the Fire-Tools project will evaluate the integration between the analysis of archaeobotanical microrremains and chemical elements with the archaeological data available from each archaeological site. The expected results of the methodological proposal seek to be of further application in other archaeological and chronocultural contexts with the presence of fire. In sum, the results of this project will allow knowing the relationship that the hominids of the Middle Pleistocene had with fire in the context of Iberia, validating a methodological and analytical approach to study the fire record across Prehistory.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- humanities history and archaeology history prehistory
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry hydrocarbons
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries forestry
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
2311 EZ Leiden
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.