1. Micromorphological analysis of thin sections from Pupicina Cave
Utilising experimental micromorphology to understand the traces of ancient
combustion from the Upper Palaeolithic & early Mesolithic
Candidate No. GSDD9
Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
MSc Environmental Archaeology of University College London in 2015
UCL INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY

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Abstract
This dissertation draws from the micromorphological analysis of four thin sections, taken
from Pupicina Cave, Croatia. These comprise of one experimental in–situ hearth, a Palaeolithic
background matrix and two hearth features of which one is from the Palaeolithic and the other spans
the Palaeolithic–Mesolithic transition. Utilisng the former, detailed observations were made of in-situ
hearth structure, composition, and microstructure and from this a classification of the main
manifestations of plant ash and their associated pedofeatures were created. All of these thin-sections
were utilised to interpret the geological depositional history, feature depositional and post-
depositional history, and archaeological integrity of these contexts and to gain an insight into early
hominid behaviour at Pupicina during this period.
Findings support the interpretation of a waterlain Palaeolithic sedimentary deposit and a shift
in climate during the Mesolithic. Furthermore it was tentatively suggested that both a primary and
secondary combustion feature is evident within these samples.

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Table of contents
Abstract...................................................................................................................................................3
Table of contents.....................................................................................................................................5
List of tables............................................................................................................................................8
List of figures..........................................................................................................................................9
Chapter 1: Introduction.........................................................................................................................15
1.1 Background to the study question...............................................................................................15
1.2 The research questions................................................................................................................15
1.3 Research design/framework........................................................................................................18
1.4 The organisation of this paper.....................................................................................................19
Chapter 2: Traces of early hominid fire-use: a background..................................................................21
2.1. Introduction................................................................................................................................21
2.2 Definition of terms......................................................................................................................21
2.3 Archaeological techniques for studying hearths .........................................................................22
2.4 Introduction to the components of hearths..................................................................................25
2.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................27
Chapter 3 Background ..........................................................................................................................29
3.1 Background to the Pupicina Cave Project...................................................................................29
3.2. Environmental setting of Pupicina Cave....................................................................................30
3.3 Geoarchaeological work at Pupicina Cave: the story so far .......................................................32
3.4 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................36
Chapter 4: methods and samples...........................................................................................................37
4.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................37
4.2 Methods.......................................................................................................................................37
4.3 Samples.......................................................................................................................................39
4.3.1 Sample 7: .............................................................................................................................39
4.3.2 Sample 13: ...........................................................................................................................40
......................................................................................................................................................40
4.3.3 Sample 4: .............................................................................................................................40
4.3.4 Sample 11: ...........................................................................................................................41
Chapter 5: Results.................................................................................................................................43
5.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................43
5.2 Sample 7: overview.....................................................................................................................46
5.2.1 Sample 7: microstructure and porosity ................................................................................46
5.2.2. Sample 7: coarse mineral components................................................................................47
5.2.3 Sample 7: coarse organic components.................................................................................48

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5.2.4 Sample 7: micromass ...........................................................................................................48
5.2.5 Sample 7: pedofeatures........................................................................................................48
5.3 Sample 13: overview...................................................................................................................50
5.3.1 Sample 13: microstructure and porosity ..............................................................................50
5.3.2 Sample 13: coarse mineral components...............................................................................52
5.3.3 Sample 13: coarse minerals of biological origin..................................................................52
5.3.4 Sample 13: coarse organic components...............................................................................54
5.3.4 Sample 13: micromass .........................................................................................................59
5.3.5 Sample 13: ashy plant matter...............................................................................................60
5.3.6 Sample 13: pedofeatures......................................................................................................67
5.4 Thin section 4: overview.............................................................................................................74
5.4.1 Sample 4: microstructure and porosity ................................................................................74
5.4.2 Sample 4: coarse mineral components.................................................................................76
5.4.3 Sample 4: coarse organic components.................................................................................77
5.4.4 Sample 4: micromass ...........................................................................................................78
5.4.5 Sample 4: ashy plant matter.................................................................................................79
5.4.6 Sample 4: pedofeatures ........................................................................................................80
5.5 Thin section 11: overview...........................................................................................................84
5.5.1 Sample 11: microstructure and porosity ..............................................................................85
5.5.2 Sample 11: coarse mineral components...............................................................................88
5.5.3 Sample 11: coarse organic components...............................................................................90
5.5.4 Sample 11: micromass .........................................................................................................91
5.5.5. Sample 11: ashy plant matter..............................................................................................92
Chapter 6: Discussion ...........................................................................................................................95
6.2 The geological depositional history of Pupicina Cave................................................................96
6.3 Post-depositional processes and archaeological integrity...........................................................98
6.4 The micromorphological criteria of anthropogenic combustion activities as derived from an
experimental hearth...........................................................................................................................99
6.4.1 The structural organisation of hearths..................................................................................99
6.4.2 The products and mechanics of combustion........................................................................99
6.4.3 Heating intensity: using ash bone and shell to determine temperature..............................101
6.4.5 Regarding the presence of spherulites................................................................................101
6.5 Deciphering the traces of ancient combustion activities: characterising fire-use at Pupicina
Cave. ...............................................................................................................................................103
6.5.1 Sample 4: A Palaeolithic hearth feature.............................................................................103
6.5.2 Sample 11: a Mesolithic midden and a secondary combustion feature?............................103
Chapter 7: Conclusion.........................................................................................................................105
7.1. Summary of findings................................................................................................................105

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7.2 Reflecting on research design and methods..............................................................................106
7.3 Future directions .......................................................................................................................106
References cited..................................................................................................................................107
Appendix.............................................................................................................................................113
Appendix A - Sample 7...................................................................................................................114
Appendix B – Sample 13................................................................................................................115
Sample 13. Zone 13a...................................................................................................................115
Sample 13. Zone 13b ..................................................................................................................117
Sample 13. Zone 13c...................................................................................................................118
Appendix C – Sample 4..................................................................................................................120
Sample 4. Zone 4a.......................................................................................................................120
Sample 4. Zone 4b ......................................................................................................................122
Appendix D - Sample 11.................................................................................................................123