Making fire in the Stone Age: flint and pyrite

Citation
D. Stapert et L. Johansen, Making fire in the Stone Age: flint and pyrite, GEOL MIJNB, 78(2), 1999, pp. 147-164
Citations number
52
Categorie Soggetti
Earth Sciences
Journal title
GEOLOGIE EN MIJNBOUW
ISSN journal
00167746 → ACNP
Volume
78
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
147 - 164
Database
ISI
SICI code
0016-7746(1999)78:2<147:MFITSA>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
Flint implements with rounded ends, excavated at several Late Palaeolithic sites in Denmark and the Netherlands, are described and interpreted as stri ke-a-lights used in combination with pyrites. Experiments were carried out; the use-wear traces on the experimental pieces are similar to those occurr ing on the prehistoric specimens. It is concluded that the pyrite technique for fire production most probably predated wood-on-wood techniques, both i n Europe and Greenland.