2026-10-02T14:19:43Zhttps://riubu.ubu.es/oai/request

oai:riubu.ubu.es:10259/122102026-10-01T00:05:28Zcom_10259.4_2560com_10259_5086com_10259_2604col_10259.4_2561

Dinçkal, Ada Feinberg, Joshua M. Herrejón Lagunilla, Ángela Papavasiliou, Dimitri Carrancho Alonso, Ángel Hernández Gómez, Cristo M. Mallol, Carolina 2026-09-30T11:35:29Z 2026-09-30T11:35:29Z 2026-06 0305-4403 https://hdl.handle.net/10259/12210 10.1016/J.JAS.2026.106612 This study presents an integrative geoarchaeological and microarchaeological case study of combustion features, employing a multi-method analytical approach incorporating archaeomagnetic, rock magnetic, and soil micromorphological methods, alongside Quantum Diamond Microscopy (QDM). The case study focuses on a combustion feature from the Middle Palaeolithic site of El Salt (80 to 45.2ka). The primary aim is to reconstruct the depositional and post-depositional history of this combustion feature, identifying human activities and environmental processes using high-resolution magnetic and micromorphological data. The combustion feature H89/90 was studied as part of the research into a large palimpsest of combustion features located within Unit XI. Archaeomagnetic and rock magnetic microarchaeological analyses of the combustion feature demonstrates that it is relatively well-preserved and in situ. This integrative approach reveals clear evidence of anthropogenic behaviours, including hearth maintenance, the use of grass-based fuels, and potentially the active sustaining of fire through the successive addition of these fuels. Furthermore, the study highlights maghemite as the primary magnetic carrier within the combustion feature. This mineral is not commonly reported as a dominant magnetic phase in archaeological hearths. Its presence suggests either previously unrecognized burning conditions, microenvironmental factors unique to this feature, or a broader need to improve the resolution at which hearth mineralogy is studied. These interpretations are possible through high-resolution rock magnetic analysis, enhanced by QDM's micrometer-scale magnetic field mapping. Representing the first known application of QDM in archaeological science, this method allows researchers to visualize internal magnetic fabrics directly within thin sections, enabling the identification of specific microfacies and magnetic structures that are typically invisible to traditional micromorphological analysis. As a result, this method not only deepens our understanding of the magnetic architecture of the hearth but also strengthens behavioural interpretations of its formation and use. Overall, the study demonstrates the value of a deeply integrated magnetic microarchaeological approach for investigating human behaviour associated with fire use. This work was supported by the Municipality of Alcoy, Spanish Government projects HAR2015- 68321-P (MINECO FEDER/UE) and PID2023-150177NB-I0, and a Spanish Government FPI predoctoral grant to A.D. Á.C. acknowledges the project PID2024-159094NB-I00, funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ERDF, EU) and the project BU037P23 of Junta de Castilla y León and the European Regional Development Fund.A. H-L also acknowledges a post-doctoral contract associated with the latter project and a Margarita Salas post-doctoral contract (2022-2024; Spanish Ministry of Universities; European Union-NextGenerationEU). application/pdf eng Elsevier Journal of Archaeological Science. 2026, V. 192, art. 106612 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2026.106612 Atribución 4.0 Internacional http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Geoarchaeology Paleolithic fires Archaeomagnetism Archaeological science Archaeological methodology Soil science Geoscience methodology Geoarqueología Archaeological geology The hearth of the matter: A high-resolution magnetic microarchaeological study of a Neanderthal combustion feature utilizing Quantum Diamond Microscopy info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Journal of Archaeological Science 192 106612