First Paleolithic Use of Peat and Dung as Fuel Discovered in a Cave in Greece

Theopetra Cave, located in Thessaly, Greece, has provided new insights into the fuel sources used by its Paleolithic inhabitants.

The cave is known for its impressive combustion layers dating back between 140,000 and 50,000 years before present (BP), as well as thick deposits of ash and charred remains from 16,000 to 13,000 years BP.

A recent study has shed light on the specific fuels used during the Middle and Upper Paleolithic periods. Through microscopic analysis and microchemical studies, researchers have discovered that the combustion layers contain large amounts of carbonized fibrous organic matter, primarily from non-woody plants, rather than charcoal.

The composition and structure of these remains suggest that a mixture of peat and dung was used as fuel, occasionally supplemented with small amounts of firewood. This finding rules out the possibility that the dung was produced by animals inside the cave, as that would have destroyed the burned layers and homogenized the sediment.

Instead, the researchers believe the peat and dung mixture was likely collected from peat bogs associated with the ancient Lake Karditsa, which may have existed in the area until the early Holocene. This fuel was used when firewood was scarce, such as during the colder intervals of glacial periods, but also during the last interglacial when the area near the cave was forested.

Theopetra Cave is the first site where the use of peat and dung as fuel during the Paleolithic has been documented, but the researchers suggest that similar evidence may be found at other archaeological sites if preserved. This discovery provides new insights into the adaptation and survival strategies of Paleolithic humans, as well as their ability to utilize various resources as fuel sources in a challenging environment.

Sources:
Panagiotis Karkanas, Nina Kyparissi-Apostolika, “Revisiting palaeolithic combustion features of Theopetra Cave: A diachronic use of dung and peat as fuel,” Journal of Archaeological Science, vol.165, May 2024, doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2024.105958