Abstract:

We present the results of an experimental programme focusing on fuel use by protohistoric societies. The current research is based on modern replicas of archaeological combustion structures at the Iberian Citadel of Calafell (Tarragona, Spain), a reconstructed Iron Age settlement that hosts experimental archaeology projects. A variety of fuel types known from the available archaeobotanical evidence were used, including wood, grasses, palm leaves and cattle and sheep dung. Variables such as heat intensity and fire duration were measured to assess potential variations based on the fuel type, structure design, location and weather conditions. This paper focuses on micro-contextual high-resolution approaches to fuel use, including thin-section micromorphology and integrated phytolith and calcitic microfossil analyses. The results contribute to a deeper comprehension of Iron Age archaeological combustion structures and provide a rich reference collection for comparative purposes.