In:
PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 16, No. 6 ( 2021-6-16), p. e0250497-
Abstract:
Artificial lighting was a crucial physical resource for expanding complex social and economic behavior in Paleolithic groups. Furthermore, the control of fire allowed the development of the first symbolic behavior in deep caves, around 176 ky BP. These activities would increase during the Upper Paleolithic, when lighting residues proliferated at these sites. The physical peculiarities of Paleolithic lighting resources are very poorly understood, although this is a key aspect for the study of human activity within caves and other dark contexts. In this work, we characterize the main Paleolithic lighting systems (e.g., wooden torches, portable fat lamps, and fireplaces) through empirical observations and experimental archeology in an endokarstic context. Furthermore, each lighting system’s characteristic combustion residues were identified to achieve a better identification for the archaeological record. The experiments are based on an exhaustive review of archaeological information about this topic. Besides, we apply the estimated luminous data of a Paleolithic cave with Paleolithic art (Atxurra in northern Spain) in 3D through GIS technology to delve into the archeologic implications of illumination in Paleolithic underground activities.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1932-6203
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.g005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.g006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.g007
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.g008
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.g009
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.s004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0250497.s005
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2267670-3
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