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theses

Spatial analysis studies can shed light on questions of behavior. Using ethnoarchaeological examples of the patterns that behaviors leave behind can provide insight into the behaviors of the remote past. An example of this is the use of ‘toss and drop’ zones by the researchers at Gesher Benot Ya’akov, in Israel. This work demonstrated that hearth activities were distinguishable through the behavioral signatures of the hominins living in the area, namely that smaller materials are found closer to hearth areas, whereas larger materials are removed from the locus of activity, and these areas can be distinguished on sites through the use of size classification and spatial location. The question of when human ancestors first began to use fire has been debated for more than three decades. The issue is contentious because of the ephemeral nature of fire and its prevalence in the natural world. Research, particularly in Europe indicates that fire may not have been a cultural tool until half a million years ago, but African evidence suggests a much earlier date of 1.6 million years ago. The current study applies the logic of spatial analysis to the site of FxJj20 AB, in Koobi Fora, Kenya, to help answer the question of when humans gained control over fire. The site in question is minimally disturbed by water or wind acting directly on the materials within the site, and preserves the location of many pieces of lithic material. The lithics found on the site were classified as either micro-artifacts or macro-artifacts, depending on their size, and then the entire site was analyzed to determine if and where clusters of materials form. The clusters were analyzed for size, and a profile was created of where larger and smaller materials are found on the site. The site is known for the presence of discolored, reddened clasts of earth. On neighboring sites, these reddened clasts are found in large consolidated patches, but at FxJj20 AB, these clasts are found scattered throughout the excavation. The location of these clasts is also analyzed as part of the research to determine if they can be used as an indicator of potential hearth sites. The lithic material is found to cluster with smaller materials being found primarily in northeastern corner of the excavated area. Larger materials are found in the western and southwestern portions of the site. The southeastern portion of the site remains largely unexcavated. The discolored earth clusters in the northeastern portion of the site, between the two large clusters of micro-artifacts identified there. This configuration suggests a possible hearth area and suggests that the pattern of ‘toss and drop’ zones is found in the remote past.

ETD_4716

M.A.

Includes bibliographical references

by Sarah Hlubik

doi:10.7282/T39K4885

ETD graduate

The author owns the copyright to this work.