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Residue Analysis of the Floors of a Charcoal Burner’s Hut at Naour (Morocco)

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The Intangible Elements of Culture in Ethnoarchaeological Research

Abstract

As part of the ethnoarchaeological study carried out by S. Burri and A. Durand on the way of life of current charcoal burners in Morocco, archaeometric analyses of samples from the floor of a hut in Naour were carried out in order to identify the presence of chemical concentrations. These analyses were performed in order to understand the chemical traces left by the various activities during the occupation of the hut and to provide data that could, in the future, serve as a framework for the interpretation of the archaeological record.

The samples, taken from the floors in and around the hut, were analyzed by spot tests designed to identify the presence of phosphates, fats, and protein residues. Although it is not always possible to correlate certain concentrations with specific activities, in general, the analysis allowed for the traces of some domestic activities to be recognized, such as the preparation and consumption of food, both inside and outside the hut.

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Acknowledgments

The analyses were performed within the framework of the Ph.D. project of S. Burri and were carried out as part of the activities of the LA3M UMR 7298, funded by the CNRS GDR 2517 (coord. P. Anderson CEPAM UMR 7298), ARC HOMERE (Hommes Milieux Environnements Culture)- MMSH (coord. A. Durand; M.-C. Bailly-Maître), the International relations office of Aix-Marseille University, and of the ERAAUB, Consolidated Group 2014 SGR845, thanks to the support of the Commissionat per a Universitats i Recerca del DIUE de la Generalitat de Catalunya.They are part of the PROFOLANT—Production Trade and Consumption of Food in Late Antiquity, PIEF-GA-2009-235863 projects, 7th Framework Program, Marie Curie Actions IEF (Scientist in charge, M. Á. Cau, Marie Curie Fellow: A. Pecci) and LRCWMED-Arqueología y Arqueometría de cerámicas de cocina tardorromanas en el Mediterráneo occidental: una aproximación integral (scientist in charge, M. Á. Cau); HAR2009-08290; R + D Plan Nacional del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and the Ramon y Cajal contract (RYC 2013-13369) founded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competividad.

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Pecci, A., Burri, S., Durand, A., Inserra, F., Cau Ontiveros, M.Á. (2016). Residue Analysis of the Floors of a Charcoal Burner’s Hut at Naour (Morocco). In: Biagetti, S., Lugli, F. (eds) The Intangible Elements of Culture in Ethnoarchaeological Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23153-2_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23153-2_20

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